Agenda item

Melanie Ellis introduced the item (Agenda Item 9), which aimed to report on the outturn of the services funded by the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG), highlighting any under or over spends, and to highlight the cumulative deficit at 31 March 2021.

Melanie Ellis drew attention to section 4.3 of the report, which detailed that there was a cumulative deficit of £1.6m. Positively the 2020/21 outturn position had reduced the cumulative deficit position to £1.46m, due to an in-year underspend of £147k. It was positive that the overall deficit had not increased. Melanie Ellis however, explained that the situation was different across each of the blocks.

• Schools Block – had an increased surplus due to the large amount held in the Growth Fund. A decision had been taken not to increase this fund further and instead to allocate funding back out to schools. There were commitments against the Growth Fund for the opening of the new school Highwood Copse and therefore the balance for this fund would begin to decrease over time.
• Early Years Block – there was a cumulative deficit in this block however, there was a deficit recovery plan in place over a five year period.
• Central Schools Services Bock – there was a small deficit however, this would be addressed when budget setting for 2022/23.

·         High Needs Block – this was the block with the largest deficit. The cumulative deficit at the 31st March 2021 stood at £2.3m, which was significantly lower than anticipated. There was a planned deficit that would need to be added to this amount for 2021/22 and by March 2022 it was expected that the deficit position would be £3.6m.

RESOLVED that the Schools’ Forum noted the report.