Purpose

That Cabinet approves a £2 million increase in the Surrey Online School contract spend limit to meet increased demand, noting that the additional expenditure will be fully offset by traded income and will not create an additional net budget pressure for the Council.

Decision

RESOLVED:

1. That Cabinet approve an increase of up to £1 million in the Surrey Online School contract spend limit, from £3.605 million to a maximum of £4.605 million, to meet forecast demand until August 2027, noting that the contract remains in place until August 2028 and any further spend authority may require a subsequent decision through the appropriate governance arrangements.

Reasons for Decisions:

An increase is required to maintain continuity of quality-assured online education for vulnerable children and young people and to allow valid supplier invoices to continue to be paid while established commissioning, safeguarding, financial, quality-assurance and contract-management controls remain in place. The options provide for an increase of either £2 million, aligning the contract spend limit with forecast expenditure until August 2028, or £1 million, aligning it with forecast expenditure until August 2027. If the £1 million option is approved, a further decision may be required for expenditure beyond that point.

(The decisions on this item can be called-in by the Children, Families, Lifelong Learning & Culture Select Committee)