Decision Maker: Executive

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Date of Decision: August 6, 2025

Purpose:

Content: Following consideration of the officer report, recommendations from Scrutiny Committee – Children and Families, appendices and discussion, the Executive resolved to:   Approve the proposed overall Deficit Management Plan incorporating a range of service improvements and projects as set out at Appendix 2. Note the updated DSG forecast deficit to 2029/30 of £294.600m based upon current policy and practice and the risk that this presents to the Council’s financial sustainability. Note that the DMP includes: Workstreams listed in section 14.1.1 have been delivered or are in delivery in line with existing policy and approved resources. Proposed workstreams listed in section 14.1.2 may be delivered within existing policy but require additional investment to enable delivery in order to realise projected cost reduction as set out in this report. Work streams listed in section 14.1.3 will require a change in policy and may require additional resources above those included within this report to enable delivery, and these will be the subject of further reports to the Executive in due course Endorse and recommend to Council, the approval of: The incorporation of the DSG revised budget including proposed investment and savings, the forecast Deficit and the Deficit Management Plan into the MTFP for the period 2025/26 to 2029/30 as set out in Table 3 and Appendix 3 The additional General Fund base budget investment required from 2026/27 to deliver the proposed DMP workstreams set out in Appendix 4 of up to £0.679m as set out in Table 5. That the additional expenditure of £0.679m at 4b is financed initially from the Corporate Contingency Budget in 2026/27 with funding over the MTFP period to be addressed as part of balancing the 2026/27 budget in March 2026. Subject to approval of recommendation 4 a) to c) by Council, Executive to approve a virement of up to £0.455m in 2025/26 from the Corporate Contingency Budget to the Education GF Budget to fund the investment in resources required to deliver the DMP, subject to full business case approval by the Section 151 Officer and Service Director of HR and OD Note that quarterly progress on delivery and financial tracking of the DSG Deficit Management Plan will be presented to Executive as part of future corporate revenue and capital monitoring reports. Agree in principle to the recommendations of the Scrutiny Committee – Children and Families and delegate authority to the Monitoring Officer in consultation with the Chair of Scrutiny Committee – Children and Families and the Lead Member for Children, Families and Education to further develop the Scrutiny Committee recommendations.