Agenda and decisions

Apologies were received from Cllr McCarthy.

To receive notification of any declarations of pecuniary and /or conflict of interests from Members.

None received.

To answer questions and hear deputations, if any, asked by any resident of the Borough pursuant to Standing Orders.

None received.

The Cabinet Member was invited to approve for 2021/22 Financial Year:

·  The fees and allowances paid to Foster Carers;

·  The charges made to other local authorities for foster placements;

·  The level of other care payments/allowances.

The Cabinet Member RESOLVED to:

(i)  Approve the proposed allowances, fees, payment rates and charges to other Local Authorities for 2021/22 - Appendix A;

(ii)  Approve the Guidance for Foster Carers on appropriate use of the Foster Allowance - Appendix B;

(iii)  Approved the proposed Financial Support for SMBC Foster Carers - Appendix C; and

(iv)  Approve the Fostering Fee Scheme for SMBC Foster Carers - Appendix D.

To update the Cabinet Member on the outcome of the statutory consultation process to expand places at Reynalds Cross Special School and to create an additionally resourced provision for pupils with Autism at Mill Lodge Primary School.

The Cabinet Member RESOLVED to:

(i)  Approve the proposal to expand Reynalds Cross Special School onto the site of Coronation Youth Centre from 1 September 2021, subject to planning permission being approved by 30 May 2021; and

(ii)  Approve the proposal to create an additionally resourced provision for pupils with Autism at Mill Lodge Primary School from 1 September 2021, without modification.

To update the Cabinet Member on the progress in delivering an extra one form of entry (150 places) at Alderbrook Secondary School from September 2022.

The Cabinet Member RESOLVED to:

(i)  Approve the commissioning of an additional 150 places at Alderbrook School from 1 September 2022;

(ii)  Approve the budgetary provision within the School’s Capital Programme to the deliver the accommodation scheme as agreed with the Governing Body of the School; and

(iii)  Approve that officers support the school with a period of consultation and the development of a business case for consideration by the Regional School’s Commissioner.

To update Cabinet Member on developments relating to Alternative Provision for secondary age students and seek approval to support an innovative proposal from Solihull Academy on how the local authority meets its statutory duty for provision immediately following the exclusion of a secondary age pupil, known as “Sixth day provision.

The Cabinet Member RESOLVED to:

(i)  Endorse the proposal from Solihull Academy (Alternative Provision Free School) to extend their age range and develop a dedicated Intervention and Assessment Centre for vulnerable secondary age students from September 2021;

(ii)  Authorise officers to work with corporate colleagues to identify and secure appropriate premises to accommodate the new provision;

(iii)   Agree in principle to commission 20 FTE places at the newly established 6th day provision; and

(iv)   Note the ongoing development of an Alternative Provision Strategy which will include an evaluation of future alternative provision place requirements.

The purpose of the report is to:

Ø  consider the implications of the final settlement for dedicated schools grant received by the Local Authority for 2021-22;

Ø  be informed of decisions taken by Solihull School Forum in respect to central services and top-slice of maintained school budgets for 2021-22;

Ø  approve school budgets as detailed in section 4 and 5, and early years funding as described in section 6.

The Cabinet Member RESOLVED to:

(i)  Approve school budgets as detailed in paragraph 4.4 to 4.7;

(ii)  Approve an increase of 3% in top-up rates payable to special schools (paragraph 5.3), and note the requirement to provide funding for teacher pay and pension grants in addition to this;

(iii)   Approve Early Years hourly rates as shown in paragraph 6.22; and

(iv)  Note the Forum approved decisions in relation to central services as described in section 7.

To inform the Cabinet Portfolio Holder of the financial position for the core service and Dedicated School Grant budgets as at Period 9 2020/21.

The Cabinet Member RESOLVED to note the financial position for the Portfolio as at Period 9, 2020/21 and endorsed the actions as set out to mitigate the identified risks.

To approve a Local Authority nominations to school governing bodies.

The Cabinet Member RESOLVED to approve the proposal for the nomination of Local Authority Governors shown in Appendix A.