Decision Details

To seek Cabinet’s ongoing commitment to providing outstanding children’s services across all areas and to agree to the proposed approach for ensuring this is delivered.  This report follows on from the  Cabinet report considered by Cabinet on the 12^th October 2021, and  summarises progress to date as well as an update on the improvement journey (including SEND and Home to School Transport) and how funds are being allocated to drive improvement.

• Significant effect on communities in two or more wards

On 7 June 2022, Cabinet:-

1. Noted the progress that has been made to date in creating the foundations for the improvement journey and the impact of the investment already made;

    

2. Agreed to the Directorate drawing down a total of £6.574m (as detailed below in the report) from the £10.000m funds already allocated to the Directorate for SENAR and H2ST and for the Directorate to allocate these as appropriate. Following the baselining exercise, a further report will be presented to Cabinet in September 2022 with a fully costed ask for the Directorate to design target operating models for SENAR and Home to School Transport has concluded;

    

3. Continued to invest in a right-sized leadership team for the Directorate that is able to bring the capability, capacity and stability needed to lead the Directorate on this vital improvement journey. The investment requested is for an additional Assistant Director post to lead work to support vulnerable children. This request is therefore for ongoing funding of £0.127m in addition to the current budget set aside for leadership in the Directorate. For 2022/23 this will be drawn down from funds already allocated. We will also seek to charge the DSG for the elements of this role as appropriate from financial year 2023/24 onwards;

    

4. Provided further transformation funds for the Home to School Transport Service to enable the newly appointed Interim AD SEND Transport to bring forward a more detailed plan for the future of this service and a request for more stable investment that will ensure the overspend is reduced and a high quality service is delivered. This is £2.155m for the period May – July 2022, plus £2.562m for the period August 2022 – March 2023. Additionally, to draw down £0.630m for Home to School Transport Commissioning activity;

    

5. Provided a further six months of transformation funds for the Directorate Improvement Programme. This will require £0.500m and will also be drawn down from the £10m already allocated;

    

6. Agreed to the directorate spending up to £0.600m on appointing to key roles to provide central functions to support directorate performance. These will be secondments or interim appointments at this stage and will also be drawn down from the £10m already allocated.

    

7. Noted that a further ask will be made in September 2022 for base budget growth and for some ongoing transformation activity once full baselining has concluded.  (The total £6.574m is summarised in the table on page 7 of the report).

    

THE DEADLINE FOR CALL IN IS 1600 HOURS ON MONDAY 13 JUNE 2022.