Agenda and decisions

Members were advised of the Fire Safety procedures in the Council Chamber.

There were no apologies for absence.

Members are invited to disclose any interests in any of the items on the agenda at this point of the meeting. Members may still disclose an interest in an item at any time prior to the consideration of the matter.

There were no disclosures of interest.

To approve as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting held on 4^th October 2023, and to authorise the Chairman to sign them.

The minutes of the meeting held on 4^th October 2023, were agreed as a correct record and the Chair signed them.

Report; Progress on the 2024/25 Budget and MTFS Update

The Cabinet agreed to the recommendations in the report:

1.     Cabinet agreed that we proceed with consultation on the £11.9m of budget savings proposals set out in section 4.7 of this report and appendix A.

2.     Cabinet noted that that despite the £11.9m of proposals put forward, there is still a residual budget gap of £12.0m and that Officers will be putting additional proposals forward for further consideration and decision in due course.

3.     Cabinet agreed for Officers to engage with the Department of Levelling Up and Communities to formally request a Capitalisation Directive which will only be drawn down in the event the Council is unable to set a legally balanced budget for 24/25.

4.     Cabinet noted the actions the Council is taking to control in-year spending.

5.     Cabinet agreed the Consultation approach set out in Section 6 of this report.                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

Report: Annual Review of the Community Safety Plan 2022-25

Cabinet:

1.     Noted the update on the implementation of the Community Safety Plan set out in this Report.

2.     Approved the priorities for action for the period 2023-25 set out at para 3 of this Report.

Report: Outline Proposals to address Early Years, Primary, Secondary, SEND and AP rising rolls – Update to Phase 5 expansion Programme

Cabinet:

1.       Agreed Phase 5 school expansion programmes should continue to be developed based on the following approach in line with the decision on the Children & Young People Education Place Planning Plan 2023-2027

i.                  To have a preference for expanding existing popular and high-performing schools and inclusion of nursery provision and SEND units where appropriate and in areas where there are no schools with high surplus capacity.

ii.                To consider the expansion of existing schools, but only to a maximum size of 4FE in the primary phase, ensuring at all times that high standards of education are paramount.

iii.       To consider the delivery of additional primary and secondary places as a result of major regeneration through establishment of new schools.

2.       Agreed that in respect of all proposals set out below that all relevant statutory processes, including planning, should be followed and where the process is the responsibility of an Academy to provide all necessary support. Where consultation is necessary the proposals below are subject to the outcome of such consultation.

3.       Approved the detailed stage 1 programme of works totalling £70m to fund Phase 5 of the Schools Expansion Programme from 2023/24 to 2026/27, noting that this is fully externally funded.