Agenda and minutes

The Vice of the Central South Consortium Joint Education Service Joint Committee explained to Members that the Chair has had some technical difficulties and would join the meeting as soon as it was made possible, therefore it was agreed that the Vice Chair would continue to Chair today’s Meeting.

To receive disclosures of personal interest from Members in accordance with the Code of Conduct

Note:

1.     Members are requested to identify the item number and subject matter that their interest relates to and signify the nature of the personal interest: and

2.   Where Members withdraw from a meeting as a consequence of the disclosure of a prejudicial interest they must notify the Chairman when they leave.

In accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct, there was no declarations of interest made pertaining to the agenda

To approve as an accurate record the minutes of the meeting of the Central South Consortium Joint Education Service Joint Committee held on 27^th May 2021

It was RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the 27^th May 2021 as an accurate reflection of the meeting of the Central South Consortium Joint Education Service Joint Committee.

To consider a report from the Deputy Managing Director CSC

The Deputy Managing Director Central South Consortium provided Members of the Joint Committee with an update on the grants to be received by the Consortium in 2021/2022, for which notification have been received, and the methods of allocation of each.

Members put forward the views in respect of the 2021/2022 grant funding and following in depth consideration of the report Members RESOLVED to approve the distribution of the grants as detailed in section 5 of the report.

To consider  the report of the Treasurer

The Head of Finance, Education and Financial Reporting informed Members of the Joint Committee that the purpose of the report is to allow Members to consider the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) update for the 3 year period beginning 1^st April 2022 and if agreement, instruct the Treasurer to notify the constituent local authorities of the recommended indicative 3 year budget to inform medium financial planning arrangements within each Council.

The Officer continued and highlighted that the current uncertainties around future public sector funding levels as a result of the on- going impact of the coronavirus pandemic and the implications of the next UK Central Government Comprehensive Spending Review scheduled for autumn 2021, reinforce the importance for robust medium term financial planning.  

Members acknowledged that the Chief Executives of each local authority, the Managing Director and the Treasurer have all contributed to updating the Consortium’s MTFP and have complied financial modelling scenarios for consideration by the Joint Committee.

The Head of Financial, Education and Financial Reporting explained that the following Key Assumptions in the construction of options were:

·         Employee costs are based upon current structure with pay awards of 2% for the 3 years :

·         No Change to the split of employee cost funding between grant and core;

·         No Change to pension contribution rates

·         Using CPI inflation for the next 3 years for 1.9%, 1.8% and 1.9%.

Members of the Joint Committee considered the following five scenarios:

A.   0% increase in contribution levels for each of the 3 years;

B.   1% reduction in contribution rates for each of the 3 years;

C.   1% reduction for 22/23 then no change for the next two year;

D.   1 % increase for each of the 3 year; and

E.   Increase in contributions equal to pay awards assumption @ 2%.

The Head of Financial, Education and Financial Reporting informed Members that between 2016/17 and 2021/22 budget saving of £854k have been delivered to meet reductions in core funding levels and have been met from areas that did not impact on frontline school improvement activities and include staffing saving, rationalisation of non- pay budgets and reduction in accommodation requirements and associated costs.

It was also explained that the Chief Executives of the constituent authorities reviewed the options and have collectively recommend option E. This option requires the consortium to absorb non pay related inflation and results in a cumulative budget gap of £28k over the three year period.  It was also explained that the Chief Executives recommendation results in annual increases in contributions of 1.72%, 1.73%, and 1.73% over each of the years covered in the MTFP period and values pre authority are shown in table 3 of the report.

In concluding her report the Head of Financial, Education and Financial Reporting explained that subject to the Joint Committee agreeing the Chief Executives recommendations:

·         The Treasurer will notify the constituent LAs to take account of this within their own MTFPs, and

·         The Managing Director and Treasurer will construct a draft Revenue Budget for the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.

To consider any items, which the Chairman, by reason of special circumstances, is of the opinion should be considered at the meeting as a matter of urgency