Decision details

School budgets: deficit balances and recovery plans bringing budgets into balance over more than one financial year

Decision Maker: Cabinet Member for Education

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Purpose:

To seek approval to requests from governing bodies of schools with budget deficits to implement budget plans in order to repay the deficits over more than one year, and to report on the schools which have still to agree a deficit recovery plan.

Decision:

That the Cabinet Member:

 

a)       Allows the two schools detailed in section 4.2 to recover their budget deficits over more than one financial year.

Reasons for the decision:

The recommendation relates only to two schools and therefore reflects the extensive work that takes place to help schools avoid getting into deficit.

 

Where a school does have financial difficulties, the need to manage these problems, and the associated risks to the LA, have to be balanced against the needs of the children currently in the school and the impact on teaching and learning of potential savings strategies.  It is considered reasonable and proportionate to permit the two schools identified to recover the budget deficits identified which have been produced in conjunction with the Governing Body.

Alternative options considered:

Not applicable, as schools are required by regulations of Derbyshire’s Scheme for Financing Schools to balance their budgets over time.

Publication date: 20/07/2022

Date of decision: 20/07/2022

Effective from: 28/07/2022

Accompanying Documents: