Decisions

RESOLVED:

 

Children’s Centres

 

1.    The remodelling of the remaining Children’s Centres to create Family Centres as part of a wider Family Service to support families with children aged 0-11 that are the most vulnerable was endorsed.

 

2.    That the number of Children’s Centres in Surrey be reduced from 58 centres to 21 centres and satellite sites, to be located in areas where children are most likely to experience poor outcomes. At least one main centre in each district and borough supported by the use of satellites, outreach workers and community venues.

 

3.       That the number of mobile Family Centres in Surrey be reduced from two to one in order to reach areas where there are small numbers of vulnerable children and families.

 

Reasons for decision

 

Moving to a new model of Family Centre services will help develop a more effective way of supporting families that need help earlier to improve their outcomes. By reorganising Children’s Centres into more targeted models of provision, we believe this will support more children and young people to avoid becoming subject to child protection or public care.

The Family Centre model will enable us to help more families and children to become more resilient who would otherwise be more likely to experience poor outcomes without support.

Retention of a mobile Family Centre means we can maintain outreach support to children and families across the county who may struggle to access a main centre or community venue.

By prioritising the location of Family Centres in areas of high deprivation, or where children are likely to be living in households that have low incomes or unemployment, this will enable us to prioritise resources for children who need services most. Deprived areas have been identified using the 2015 Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index, which shows the proportion of children under the age of 16 living in low-income households in different neighbourhoods.

Recognising that some needs cross the boundaries of deprivation, such as domestic abuse and parental mental health, funding allocations are also being based on the total population of children within communities.

The composition of the families the Centres support have children across a range of different ages, which fall outside the current service offer for 0-5 year olds. Centres are already supporting families with children who fall outside of this age bracket. We therefore propose to expand the age range of children supported to 0-11 years as part of the service offer going forward.

 

RESOLVED:

 

Special Educational Needs & Disabilities

 

4.    That the broad support from consultation respondents for the proposed principles for transformation of SEND services was noted, namely:

·         Children with special educational needs are identified earlier and supported in a timely and effective way in order to improve their outcomes and wellbeing. 

·         There is an increased focus on earlier intervention and prevention to offer help and meet needs at the earliest opportunity, reducing the demand on high cost, high need interventions. 

·         Children and young people are helped to become resilient and independent so that they can lead independent and fulfilling lives in their own communities. 

·         The voices of our children, young people and families are heard so they can shape and inform how we work together to get the best results. 

·         Surrey’s early years settings, schools, colleges and other providers are able to support children to live and grown up locally and achieve their full potential.

5.    That the broad support from consultation respondents for the areas of transformation for SEND services was noted, namely:

·           Early identification and support

·           Developing local services and managing the market

·           Partnership working

·           Improving policy and practice.

6.    That further engagement and co-design activity will be undertaken with families, health partners, education and other partners to explore the feedback, ideas and concerns shared through the consultation and develop the council’s draft SEND strategy into a jointly owned Surrey special educational needs and disabilities strategy and long term action plan was noted.

 

7.    That authority be delegated to the Executive Director for Children, Families, Lifelong Learning and Culture, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for All Age Learning, to approve the final joint strategy and the long-term action plan, once completed subject to paragraph 77 of the submitted report and further Cabinet decision as necessary.

 

8.    That in the event that any of the co-design activity work, strategy identification and/or action plan gives rise to a change in the delivery of services that necessitates consultation and public engagement that will be undertaken alongside consideration to our Public Sector Equality and Section 11 Children Act 2004 duties.

Reasons for decision

 

Agreeing the recommendations for the draft SEND strategy will enable the council to carry out further co-design of those services for some of the most vulnerable children and young people in the county so they are able to access the high quality services they need.

RESOLVED:

 

Libraries & Culture

 

9.    That the refinements, in italics, to the five strategic principles of the proposed Libraries and Cultural Services Strategy, reflecting consultation feedback was noted. These are:

·           Libraries and cultural services provide and enable opportunities for everyone to learn, access information, acquire new skills, literacy and be involved in their communities.

·           There will be a focus on the wellbeing and strengthening of communities, particularly the most vulnerable, to enable them to be resilient, providing touch points and safe spaces.

·           Libraries and cultural services are most effective and efficient when they work in partnership with the public, voluntary, community and private sectors, including through the creation of shared spaces creating a model of financial sustainability.

·           New technologies, including digital, enable libraries and cultural services to reach new audiences, and existing audiences in new ways, and offer 24/7 access.

·           Volunteers are crucial community advocates and assets in libraries and cultural services, who also gain valuable skills and relationships through the work they do.

 

10.  That the Executive Director for Children, Families, Lifelong Learning and Culture will prepare detailed proposals with partners, including district and borough councils, for a proposed future model for library and cultural services in Surrey based on the five newly adopted strategic principles was noted.

 

11.  That a second public consultation be carried out setting out the detailed proposals referred to in Resolution 9 above.

 

Reasons for decision

 

The council can proceed to develop a financially sustainable future model of libraries and cultural services in Surrey, subject to consultation and the Equality Impact Assessment, that reflects modern expectations, is fit for purpose and provides and enables opportunities for everyone to learn, access information, acquire new skills, increase literacy and be involved in their communities.

 

RESOLVED:

 

Community Recycling Centres

 

12.  That the community recycling centres (CRCs) located at Farnham and Lyne (Chertsey) be retained, based on the current and projected use of these sites.

 

13.  That the current prices for materials in the charging waste scheme be maintained.

 

14.  That a charge for construction wood and roofing felt from Monday 1 April 2019 or as soon as practically possible after this be introduced. 

 

15.  That an annual application fee for van, trailer and pick-up permits from 1 May 2019 be introduced, when all permits are due for renewal.

 

16.  

            a.        That the CRCs located at Bagshot, Cranleigh, Dorking and Warlingham be retained until 30 September 2019, but restrict their use to accepting recycling materials only.

            b.        During this period assess whether different models for operating and funding these four CRCs could achieve the same saving as closing them. If that service cannot be achieved then proceed with their closure on 1 October 2019.

            c.        In the event that the four CRCs close, extend the opening hours of Camberley, Caterham and Leatherhead CRCs from six days per week to seven days per week.

 

17.  That the Cabinet Member for Environment and Waste establish a task group to work with officers to develop a new waste strategy for Surrey County Council by September 2020, considering the implications of the Government’s Resource and Waste Strategy and to ensure the waste service is affordable within the current financial strategy.

 

Reason for decision

 

Recognising both the value many residents place on Community Recycling Centres (CRCs) and the need to make savings, we propose to limit closure of CRCs to the minimum number possible to achieve savings. Bagshot, Cranleigh, Dorking and Warlingham are recommended for closure as they handle the least waste and have the lowest number of visitors, however this will be delayed so that alternative options to achieve the savings through alternative operational and funding models can be fully explored. Further CRC usage information can be found in Annex 4bto the submitted report.

As the nearest alternative CRCs within the network, extending the opening hours of Camberley, Caterham and Leatherhead CRCs should help to mitigate the impact of the CRC closures if this goes ahead.

In addition, introducing charges for construction wood and roofing felt and launching permits for vans, trailers and pickups will assist in delivery of the savings target for 2019/20. While the option to increase charges on the existing charging waste scheme has been explored, it would have a negligible impact on savings delivery and charges are currently towards the upper end of charges relative to similar councils.

 

RESOLVED:

 

Concessionary Bus Travel

 

18.  That the non-statutory additional travel concession for disabled pass holders and offer the national statutory English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) in Surrey from 1 April 2019 be withdrawn. Disabled pass holders will be able to travel for free between 09.30 and 23.00 on weekdays, all day at weekends and on bank holidays

 

19.  That companion passes be retained, so from 1 April 2019 entitled pass holders and a companion can travel for free between 9:30am and 11:00pm on weekdays, all day at weekends and bank holidays.

 

20.  That officers would continue discussions with bus operators on a commercial offer of a reduced fare or flat fare scheme in the county was noted.

 

Reason for decision

 

By agreeing these recommendations, this will help the council to achieve savings of £400,000 to contribute towards its overall savings requirement in 2019/20.

 

In addition, impact on travel is likely to be minimal. Analysis shows that only 2% of all journeys made using the disabled pass take place before 9:30am and after 11:00pm on weekdays.

 

Having considered the consultation feedback, and the impact removal of the companion pass will have on disabled pass holders and their companions, we are proposing to retain companion passes, but bring the terms of companion pass usage in line with those of disabled passes. This means companion pass holders will be able to travel on the bus network for free from 9:30am to 11:00pm on weekdays, and free all day for weekends and bank holidays.

 

[The decisions on this item can be called in by the Corporate Overview Select Committee]

There were eight questions received from four Members.  The questions and responses are attached as annex A.

RESOLVED:

 

1.         That Cabinet noted the Council’s overall revenue and capital budget positions as at 30 November 2018:

·         £14.5m forecast underspend against the 2018/19 budget;

·         £6.7m forecast total draw down reserves;

·         £2.8m additional revenue funding in 2018/19 from the Department for Education to provide support for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) (Annex 1, paragraph 1), and

·         £132m forecast service capital programme outturn against £134m budget.

 

2.         That the contribution to a new SEND Reserve an amount matching the overspending on the Dedicated Schools Grant High Needs Block was approved.

 

Reasons for decisions

 

This report was presented to comply with the agreed policy of providing a monthly budget monitoring report to Cabinet for approval and action as necessary.

 

[The decisions on this item can be called in by the Corporate Overview Select Committee]

 

RESOLVED:

 

It is recommended that Cabinet make the following recommendations to the County Council:

 

Recommendation 1

That the published admissions number for Reception at Furzefield Primary School is decreased from 60 to 58 for September 2020.

 

Reasons for decision

·         It will enable children admitted to the SEND Learning and Additional Needs centre to be educated in the mainstream class more than 50% of the time

·         It will reduce the likelihood of the school having to take qualifying measures to meet infant class size legislation

·         It is supported by the Headteacher and Governing Body of the school

·         There will still be sufficient places for local children if the PAN is decreased

·         It will have no impact on children who are currently on roll at the school

 

Recommendation 2

That the admission arrangements for Wallace Fields Junior School are amended so that the measuring point used to assess nearest school and home to school distance will be the nearest gate of either Wallace Fields Infant School or Wallace Fields Junior School.

 

Reasons for Decision

·         There was overall support for this change

·         It will ensure that the school serves the local community around both the infant and the junior schools

·         It will enable more local children to transfer from the infant school to the junior school

·         It will support families by keeping siblings at schools that are within close proximity

·         It will remove uncertainty for some families who have the infant school as their nearest school at Reception but not the junior school at Year 3

·         This proposal is in line with a separate consultation by Wallace Fields Infant School to make the same changes to their admission arrangements. The change to the admission arrangements for Wallace Fields Junior School is subject to the governors of Wallace Fields Infant School also agreeing to the same change at their full Governing Body meeting on Wednesday 16 January 2019

·         It is supported by the Headteacher and Governing Body of Wallace Fields Junior School

 

Recommendation 3

That children previously in state care outside England who left that care as a result of being adopted are given priority under criterion two for children with an exceptional social/medical need.

 

Reasons for Decision

·         It is consistent with the advice issued by Nick Gibb, Minister of State for School Standards, and advice issued by the Department for Education in August 2018

·         It provides as much parity as the local authority can provide with children who have been adopted from care in England, who receive priority within criterion one

·         It will ensure that this vulnerable group of children will receive priority in the admissions process for community and voluntary controlled schools, regardless of the country in which the child was in state care, as long as they were adopted from that care.

 

Recommendation 4

That Surrey’s Relevant Area is agreed as set out in Enclosure 3 to the submitted report.

 

Reasons for Decision

·         The local authority is required by law to define the Relevant Area for admissions

·         The Relevant Area must be consulted upon and agreed every two years even if no changes are proposed

·         Setting a Relevant Area ensures that any schools who might be affected by changes to the admission arrangements for other local schools will be made aware of those changes

·         No change has been made to Surrey’s Relevant Area since it was last determined in March 2017

 

Recommendation 5

That the Published Admission Numbers (PANs) for September 2020 for all other community and voluntary controlled schools (excluding Furzefield Primary School which is covered by Recommendation 1) are determined as they are set out in Appendix 1 of Enclosure 1 of the Cabinet.

 

Reasons for Decision

·         All other PANs remain as determined for 2019 which enables parents to have some historical benchmark by which to make informed decisions about their school preferences

·         The School Commissioning team supports the PANs

 

Recommendation 6

That the aspects of Surrey’s admission arrangements for community and voluntary controlled schools for September 2020 for which no change is proposed, are agreed as set out in Enclosure 1 and its appendices.

 

Reasons for Decision

·         The existing arrangements are working well

·         This will ensure stability and consistency for the majority of Surrey’s parents, pupils and schools

·         The arrangements enable parents to have some historical benchmark by which to make informed decisions about their school preferences

·         The arrangements enable the majority of pupils to attend their nearest schools and in doing so reduce travel and support Surrey’s sustainability policies

·         Schools which will not be taken in to account in the assessment of nearest school, as set out in Appendix 3 of Enclosure 1, have been determined by the definition set out in paragraph 12 of Enclosure 1

 

Recommendation 7

That the primary and secondary coordinated admission schemes that will apply to all schools for 2020 are agreed as set out in Enclosure 2 of the Cabinet report. 

 

Reasons for Decision

·         The coordinated schemes for 2020 are essentially the same as 2019 with dates updated

·         The coordinated schemes would enable the County Council to meet its statutory duties regarding school admissions

·         The coordinated schemes are working well

·         Changes highlighted in bold in Enclosure 2 add clarity and are in line with the schemes proposed by other local authorities participating in the Pan London coordinated admissions process

RESOLVED:

 

That the decisions taken by the Cabinet Members under delegated authority be noted.

 

Reason for Decision

 

To inform the Cabinet of decisions taken by the Leader / Cabinet Members under delegated authority.

 

A report was received from the Corporate Overview Select Committee relating to item 7b on the agenda. A response to this is attached as annex D.

 

There were nine petitions submitted.  Three of these concerned children’s centres and six concerning community recycling centres. Details and responses to the petitions are attached as annex C.

There were three questions received from members of the public. The questions and responses are attached as annex B.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet makes the following recommendations to Council on 5 February 2019. 

Cabinet recommends to Council to note the following important features of the revenue and capital budget

 

1.         The Executive Director of Finance’s statutory conclusions in his Section 25 statement.

Proposed budget: Cabinet recommendations to Council for the revenue and capital budgets

 

2.    Approve the net revenue budget requirement be set at £886.1 million (net cost of services after service specific government grants) for 2019/20 (Annex 6 of the submitted report), subject to confirmation of the Final Local Government Financial Settlement

 

3.    Approve the total council tax funding requirement be set at £731.5 million for 2019/20. This is an increase in the level of the council tax of 2.99% (Annex 6 of the submitted report).

 

4.     Notes that for the purpose of section 52ZB of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, the council formally determines that the increase in council tax is not such as to trigger a referendum.

5.         Set the Surrey County Council precept for Band D council tax at £1,453.50, which represents a 2.99% up-lift. This is a rise of 81p a week from 2018/19’s precept of £1,411.29. This includes £102.39 for the Adult Social Care Precept, which remains at the same rate as last year. A full list of bands is as follows:

Council Tax Band	2018/19 £	2019/20 £
Band A	940.86	£969.00
Band B	1,097.67	£1,130.50
Band C	1,254.48	£1,292.00
Band D	1,411.29	£1,453.50
Band E	1,724.91	£1,776.51
Band F	2,038.53	£2,099.51
Band G	2,352.15	£2,422.51
Band H	2,822.58	£2,907.01

 

6.         Approve the Flexible Use of Capital Receipts Strategy for 2019/20 to meet the statutory guidelines for the use of capital receipts to fund the transformation and reform of services (Annex 8 of the submitted report)

7.         Approve the application of a further £7.2 million in the current 2018/19 financial year to fund the transformation under the capital receipt flexibilities strategy (Annex 8 of the submitted report).

8.         Approve the use of £16.3 million in the 2019/20 financial year, to fund the transformation under the capital receipt flexibilities strategy (Annex 8 of the submitted report).

9.         That the underlying balance on the general fund remains set at £21.3 million as at 1 April 2019.

10.      Approve the Total Schools Budget of £492.9 million to meet the council’s statutory requirement on schools funding. (Annex 6 of the submitted report).

11.      Approve the overall indicative budget envelopes for Executive Directorates and individual services for the 2019/20 budget (Annex 6 of the submitted report).

12.      Note the indicative budget envelopes for 2020-24 (Annex 6 of the submitted report).

13.      Approve £413.8 million indicative five year capital programme, with £129.2 million capital investment in 2019/20 (Annex 6 of the submitted report).

Capital Strategy: Cabinet recommendations to Council:

 

14.      The Capital Strategy for 2019-24 (Annex 9 of the submitted report)

15.      The policy for making a prudent level of revenue provision for the repayment of debt (the Minimum Revenue Provisions policy) (Annex 9A of the submitted report)

 

Reasons for decision

 

Council will meet on 5 February 2019 to agree a budget and set the council tax precept for 2019/20. Cabinet must recommend a budget to Council to consider at this meeting.

The budget directs available resources to support the achievement of the council’s ambitions and priorities in the Vision and the Organisation Strategy. 

In particular, the budget proposals reflect the Vision ambition to ensure no one in Surrey is left behind. We know, as documented in the evidence base compiled to inform the 2030 Vision, that some residents experience a poorer quality of life than their neighbours - we will focus the resources we have available on actions that best support the most vulnerable people in communities, and those who do not have the means or resources to help themselves.

Prioritising spend in the current context of funding constraints and increased demands has necessitated the redirection of some funding from universal services and provision to targeted services and this is reflected in proposals for service transformation articulated in the accompanying Part A report Transformation Proposals – Delivering Better Services for Residents Cabinet report of 29 January 2019. The Part A report also details changes to services that include stopping some services we are not statutorily required to provide.

The budget will also support the delivery of the major transformational changes that are required to ensure that the council can improve priority outcomes for residents while managing growing demands for services and ensuring future financial sustainably. 

Following the confirmation of the Council Tax and Business rates bases and collection fund balances by Surrey Borough and Districts, the total council tax to be collected will be £731.506m, an increase of £206,000. In addition, business rates receipts will increase by £77,000.

 

These changes will be reflected in the papers for County Council on 5 February.