Agenda, decisions and minutes
PDF 465 KBVenue: Council Chamber, Woodhatch Place, 11 Cockshot Hill, Reigate, Surrey ,RH2 8EF
Contact: Vicky Hibbert or Huma Younis Email: huma.younis@surreycc.gov.uk
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EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC
Minutes: RESOLVED: That under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information under the relevant paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.
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DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION SAFETY VALVE AGREEMENT
Additional documents: Decision: RESOLVED:
Reasons for Decisions:
The Department for Education (DfE) has invited Surrey County Council to participate in its Safety Valve intervention programme, which seeks to develop proposals with targeted local authorities to address historic deficits within the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) High Needs Block (HNB) and reach an in-year balance to ensure ongoing sustainability. A recommendation has been made for Cabinet to approve the proposed Safety Valve Agreement because the assessment (based on net present value) is that the proposals are deliverable and the financial analysis indicates that over both the MTFS and 20-year timelines, the financial benefits of the Safety Valve proposed financial contributions is greater than not securing the proposed Safety Valve agreement. A recommendation has been made for Cabinet to delegate authority for final approval and to sign the proposed Safety Valve Agreement to the Chief Executive, Deputy Chief Executive and S151 Officer and the Executive Director for Children, Families and Lifelong Learning in consultation with the leader of the Council so that this can be done within the timescales set out by DfE. (The decisions on this item can be called-in by the Children, Families, Lifelong Learning & Culture Select Committee)
Minutes: The report was introduced by the Cabinet Member for Education and Learning who explained that significant deficits on local authorities high needs block had become a national issue in recent years, with substantial deficits occurring which impacted on long term financial sustainability. Safety valve agreements had been introduced for authorities with the largest deficits to receive additional funding on the commitment to bring their in-year DSG (dedicated schools grant) into balance.
Surrey was approached in December 2021 to discuss an agreement. The Council submitted its final proposal on the 22nd of February 2022 and following further meetings and clarification in March, the Council received a first draft of a proposed safety valve agreement from the DfE. The Leader welcomed the report and thanked the Cabinet Member and officers for undertaking robust conversations with the DfE. He added that this was a very important step forward in progressing SEND transformation plans over the next five years.
RESOLVED:
Reasons for Decisions:
The Department for Education (DfE) has invited Surrey County Council to participate in its Safety Valve intervention programme, which seeks to develop proposals with targeted local authorities to address historic deficits within the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) High Needs Block (HNB) and reach an in-year balance to ensure ongoing sustainability. A recommendation has been made for Cabinet to approve the proposed Safety Valve Agreement because the assessment (based on net present value) is that the proposals are deliverable and the financial analysis indicates that over both the MTFS and 20-year timelines, the financial benefits of the Safety Valve proposed financial contributions is greater than not securing the proposed Safety Valve agreement. A recommendation has been made for Cabinet to delegate authority for final approval and to sign the proposed Safety Valve Agreement to the Chief Executive, Deputy Chief Executive and S151 Officer and the Executive Director for Children, Families and Lifelong Learning in consultation with the leader of the Council so that this can be done within the timescales set out by DfE. (The decisions on this item can be called-in by the Children, Families, Lifelong Learning & Culture Select Committee)
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