Rochdale Council Cabinet meeting as it happened

Thursday 10 September

Proposed Change to Home to School Transport Policy for Children and Young People with Special Educational Needs.

The Cabinet gave approval on 28 August 2014 for the Assistant Director to explore with colleagues in Oldham and Bury the opportunity for shared commissioning of transport services for children with special educational needs (SEN)/disabilities across the three Local Authorities in order to achieve savings. As part of the Shared Services work, the three authorities are looking at developing a common eligibility policy. The proposed changes only focus on home to school/college travel for children and young people with SEN (0-25 years). The purpose of the report is to seek permission from the Cabinet to consult with all stakeholders about proposed changes to the SEN Transport Policy, to ensure the policy framework for home to school/college transport reflects the expectations set out in the Children and Families Act 2014 to provide greater flexibility and to ensure the use of personal travel budges where this is requested.

Councillors agree the report.

Section 106 Formal Sport.

The purpose of the report to councillors it to inform them of the funds currently held for Section 106 Formal Sport contributions and to seek approval for the allocation of funds from relevant S106 receipts to fund Formal Sport improvements already identified across the borough.

Councillors agree the report.

The Revenue Finance Update for 2015/16.

This report updates Cabinet and the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee on the Council’s revenue financial position. The resources available to the Council in 2015/2016 are less than in previous years. To ensure that the Council does not significantly overspend by the end of 2015/2106 the Cabinet must ensure that services expenditure is contained within the budgets approved at Budget Fixing Council in February 2015, as amended in line with the scheme of delegation. The budget set out by Budget Fixing Council on 24 February 2015 was £177.535m. This has increased to £179.457m.

Councillors agree the report.

The Capital Finance Update for 2015/2016.

The purpose of the report to councillors is to update the Cabinet and the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee on the Council’s capital financial position and enable decision making and action where appropriate in respect of that position. The report is the second capital financial update for the 2105/2106 financial year and forces on the overall capital position of the Council for 2015/2016. The current capital programme is £57.3m. This a reduction of £3.4m from the position reported at the end of July 2105. The latest forecast Capital outturn position as at the end of July is £50.5m, which is £6.8m lower than the current revised capital of £57.3m. This is a result of rephrasing of £5.7m and underspends of £1.1m.

Councillors agree the report.

The Collection Fund Update for 2015/2016.

The report updates councillors on the Council’s forecast Collection Fund position for 2015/2106. The Collection Fund Account reflects the statutory requirement for the Council to maintain a separate Collection Fund, in relation to the operation of the Business Rates Retention Scheme and Council Tax. The forecast Collection Fund Position for 2015/2106 is a surplus of £1.877m, made up of £2.054m deficit relating to business rates and £3.931m surplus relating to Council Tax. The Council’s share of the forecast Collection Fund surplus as of 31 March 2015 is £2.389. This is a £0.098m improved position from that reported to Cabinet in August. The position of the Collection Fund for 2015/2016 will form part of the 2106/2107 budget setting process and the Council’s share of the estimated surplus, will be included within the 2016/2107 General Fund Budget as at Budget Fixing Council in February 2016.

Councillors agree the report.

The Savings Financial Update for 2105/2106.

The report updates councillors on the achievement of the Council’s 2015/2016 Saving Proposals as at the end of July 2015. The resources available to the Council in 2015/2106 were significantly less than in previous years. To ensure the Council did not significantly overspend by the end of 2015/2016, councillors need to ensure that services deliver on their savings proposals. Of the £32.558m savings identified, £27.797m has been achieved against specific savings proposals. £3.142m are on target to be achieved and £1.369m has been achieved via mitigating actions. This leaves a balance of £0.250m, which relates to the pressures on the Waste Disposal Levy.

Councillors agree the report.

Meeting ended.