Decisions

The Home Office are seeking views on the proposed changes to the Firefighters’ Pension Scheme (England) 2006. The consultation document sets out the background to the changes needed to allow affected members to be able to purchase their pre-July 2000 service and to have this included in their pension entitlement.

To submit Surrey Fire and Rescue Service’s response to the government’s consultation on the Retained Firefighters’ Pension Scheme.

The existing school accommodation at the St Matthews CofE Primary School does not enable the provision of a full statutory educational offer that meets the educational needs of Surrey’s most vulnerable learners; therefore, a new block is required. The school is forecast to accommodate an additional 13 primary aged SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) pupils. The places are planned to be phased in over a period of 3-4 years commencing in September 2023. 

This project therefore will involve the design and construction of a new building adjacent the main school which will provide high quality modern accommodation facilitating the best learning environment for the new cohort of 13 SEND pupils.

Following a compliant tender exercise, it is proposed to award the contract to TG Escapes Ltd. The Contract value is £1,180,500.

It was AGREED that:

Approval to procure a Contract for Surrey County Council English National Concessionary Travel Scheme was granted as part of the Annual Procurement Forward Plan by Cabinet on 21st December 2021 Min ref: 243/21 – Authority was delegated to the Executive Director of Environment, Transport & Infrastructure.

The Cabinet Member for Education and Learning determined the statutory notices published thereby bringing into effect the formal commencement of the proposal to establish a new ASD-designated SEN Unit at Epsom Downs Primary School from 1 September 2023.

RESOLVED:

1. That Cabinet agree to proceed with Option B as described in the Part 2 report.

Reasons for Decisions:

See Exempt Minute [E-07-23]

(The decisions on this item can be called-in by the Resources and Performance Select Committee)

RESOLVED:

1.    That Cabinet formally adopts the 2023 revised Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education in Surrey.  

Reasons for Decisions:

There have been a number of changes in curriculum delivery, content and in guidance from the Department of Education since the existing syllabus was adopted in 2017, meaning it was no longer fit for purpose. The revision period has enabled a comprehensive engagement including the adoption of the recommendations from Ofsted in relation to curriculum design, set out as follows:

·         It should be sequenced in such a way that the ‘curriculum is the progression model’ 

·         It should help pupils to make connections across their learning, build strong schemata. 

·         It should set out what it means to get better at RE in substantive, disciplinary and personal knowledge, across ages and stages of development. 

There has been a complete review of the content by qualified teachers and the Advisor to the Surrey SACRE, and the revised syllabus can now be recommended to the Cabinet for teacher training and implementation from September 2023 and first teaching from September 2024.The action being proposed will have benefits for the residents of Surrey in as much as teachers will be able to begin a new academic year by teaching a more relevant RE curriculum that complies with national guidance, prepares young people well for examination courses in RE, and more accurately reflects the values and beliefs of citizens in this country. 

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

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet Member of the Month update be noted.

RESOLVED:

That the decisions taken since the last Cabinet meeting be noted.

There were none.

There were none.

There were none.

There were six public questions. The questions and responses were published in a supplement to the agenda.

There were no Member questions.

There were none.

These were agreed as a correct record of the meeting.

Apologies were received from Clare Curran, Paul Deach and Marisa Heath.

RESOLVED:

1.    That Cabinet note the Council’s revenue and capital positions for the year.

2.    That Cabinet approve the contribution of the £0.7m residual surplus to the General Fund Balance, maintaining the balance at c4.5% of the net revenue budget.

3.    That Cabinet approve a reserve contribution of £10.5m to the Budget Equalisation Reserve in relation to additional Business Rate Grant received late in the financial year. This is based on anticipated deficits in Borough and Districts collection funds relating to Government reliefs granted for retail and hospitality sectors during the pandemic (paragraph 28).

4.    That Cabinet approve capital carry forwards of £11.2m, consisting of £18.3m of slippage offset by £7.1m of accelerated spend.  Of the slippage, £14.2m is requested to be carried forward into the 23/24 capital programme, with the remaining £4.1m in 2024/25 (paragraph 46 - 47)

Reasons for Decisions:

This report is to comply with the agreed policy of providing a monthly budget monitoring report to Cabinet for approval of any necessary actions.

(The decisions on this item can be called in by the Resources and Performance Select Committee)