Agenda and draft minutes

There were no Declarations of Interest made at the meeting.

Alan Pogorzelec, Business Regulation Manager, gave a verbal overview of his roles and responsibilities within Business Regulation which encompassed managing the bereavement contract with Dignity, Trading Standards, Licensing and Environmental Health.

The idea of a Celebration of Life event had arisen from the Bereavement Forum at the beginning of the year.  Rotherham’s Dignity Manager had had experience of arranging such events in other areas of the country which were held once or twice a year for those who had attended a service at the Crematorium during the past 6 months to celebrate the life of those recently deceased. 

Unfortunately, the Manager had had to divert her attention to other issues but was still confident of being able to hold such an event before the end of the Summer. 

The Cabinet Member was in favour of such an event but stressed that, due to the short timescale, it should only proceed if all arrangements were in place.  Given the sensitive nature, it was imperative that it did not go ahead if there were question marks over any aspect of the arrangements.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the proposed Celebration of Life event be supported subject to clarification of the issues aforementioned.

(2)  That the Cabinet Member be kept fully informed of the arrangements being made.

Consideration was given to the report presented by the Finance Officer, Schools’ Finance (CYPS Business Partnering, Financial Services, Resources Directorate) that outlined the Local Authority’s schools’ outturn balances for the 2013-2014 financial year. 

The overall school balance position for 2013/2014 showed a decrease of 26% from 2012/13, decreasing from £8.881M to £6.573M. 

Balances for 2013/2014: -

·           Had fallen across the Primary, Secondary and Special School sectors;

·           Had risen across the Early Excellence Centre sector;

·           12 Schools were above the Department for Education’s threshold of 8% for Primary, Nursery and Special Schools, and 5% for Secondary Schools.  There had been 20 Schools above the threshold in the previous year;

·           9 Schools outturned the financial year with a deficit budget;

·           There had been an increase in the total deficit balances in the Primary, Secondary and Special sectors from £357,000 to £537,000

·           Rotherham had the second lowest average balance per school of its ten statistical neighbours.

Discussion ensued on the 9 Schools that had outturned the financial year with a deficit budget.  Discussions would take place with the Head Teachers concerned and agree a Licence to Deficit and a 3 year plan.  They would then be closely monitored by the Finance Team.

The new formula for allocated Dedicated Schools Grant, introduced in 2013/14, had resulted in significant redistribution of funding between schools.  Pupil number driven funding had increased from 67% of the total to 83% owing to the abolition of funding allocations relating to premises, former grant and other factors.  In 2014/15 89% of the total funding allocated to schools was pupil number driven of which 93% was basic entitlement (numbers on roll).

Resolved: -  That the overall position of Schools’ balances for the 2013/14 financial year be noted. 

Minutes of meeting held on 21^st May, 2014

The minutes of the Children, Young People and Families Partnership held on 21^st May, 2014, were noted.

It was noted that the “In It Together”, part of the Special Educational Needs and Disability Reforms, was to be launched at an event to be held on 4^th July, 2014, at the New York Stadium.

-        Minutes of meeting held on 5^th February, 2014

The notes of a meeting of the above Strategy Group held on 7th May, 2014, were submitted for information.

-        Minutes of meeting held on 17^th April, 2014

The notes of a meeting of the above Working Group held on 17th April, 2014, were submitted for information.

Resolved:-  That the next meeting of the Cabinet Member take place on Monday, 15^th July, 2014 at 11.30 a.m. at the Town Hall.