To consider a report of the Executive Member for Children’s Services, Corporate Director Children, Families and Wellbeing and the Chief Finance Officer.

That the proposals included in the report to address the gap in the High Needs budget for 2018/19, and approach to 2019/20 and 2020/21, be approved.

The Executive Member for Children’s Services, Corporate Director Children, Families and Wellbeing and Chief Finance Officer submitted a report proposing that the funding gap for 2019/20 in the Education High Needs Budget would be met from a continuation of savings programmes which would be subject to further review and consultation and a proposed continuation of the 0.5% top-slice of the schools block. The latter would be subject to approval by the Schools Funding Forum and the ESFA. The proposal would allow further time to consider proposals to address the continuing funding gap and the full implications of the various proposals.

RESOLVED - That the proposals included in the report to address the gap in the High Needs budget for 2018/19, and approach to 2019/20 and 2020/21, be approved.