Content

8.1

The Head of Service – Resource and
Business Planning was in attendance to present a report which set
out the budget pressures and challenges facing the services which
fall under the Education, Children and Families committee area, and
begins to develop a budget and resourcing action plan to mitigate
these as far as possible. The report also highlighted emerging
trends, growth in demand, and the rising complexity of the level of
need for services which are directly impacting on the
resource’s requirement.

 

 

8.2

RESOLVED
UNANIMOUSLY: That the
Education, Children and Families Policy Committee:

 

 

 

1. Notes the
financial pressures for 24/25 detailed within this report and the
new income available to mitigate them.
2. Notes the
measures proposed in the report to mitigate these pressures and
that they will be presented to the Strategy and Resources Policy
Committee as part of the Council’s budget for 24/25.
3. Notes that
Officers will work to develop any necessary detailed implementation
plans for the proposals in this report so that the proposals, once
agreed, can be implemented as planned before or during the 2024/25
financial year.
4. Notes that it is
proposed that there will be a further update at the December
committee meeting.

 

 

8.3

Reasons for Decision

 

 

8.3.1
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

The recommendations put forward in this paper
and appendix 1 are recommended for approval on the basis that they:
- Are consistent with our agreed approach to demand management,
sufficiency, and meeting our obligations to provide quality
statutory services which meet the needs of the child or young
person.
 
- Are consistent with our vision/strategy to
provide services and opportunities which support each child and
young person within Sheffield to meet their potential.
- Support the ongoing improvement of
Education, Children and Family services in Sheffield.
- Are guided by an evidence base, benchmarking
and/ or trend data which identifies areas of spend where
disinvestment, subject to individual review, can most likely be
made without detriment.
- Enable the Council to continue to meet its
legal duties.

 

 

8.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

 

 

8.4.1
 

Do Nothing: By
undertaking none of the proposed actions, we would be unable to
contribute to a balanced budget.