Decision

Having been duly proposed and seconded, the Executive Resolved to approve one-off funding of £5,331,483 to be spent over a two-year period funded from the Council’s Business Risk Reserve to be released in three tranches in order to support:

a)    The clearance of the majority of the backlog of EHCNAs, the prevention of any future build up, to ensure services could keep pace with increasing demand and to improve timeliness of EHCPs, at a total cost of £3,169,325.

b)    Resolving capacity issues and restructuring within the SEND Services at a cost of £1,742,568.

c)    Resolving capacity issues in relation to the expansion of the Preparing for Adult function (Learning Mentors) within the Virtual School at a cost of £419,590.

d)    Noting that staffing resources would be on a fixed term contract or agency basis, including legal resources, and that any permanent expansion of the service would be subject to further approval in the normal way.

e)    The Section 151 Officer to release £2m from the Business Risk Reserve immediately, a further £2m once satisfactory progress was evidenced on filling the posts and the remainder once further satisfactory progress was evidenced.