Agenda item

To submit an update on the position with regard to the Joint-Committee’s 2013/14 budget.

The Senior Education Accountant of Gwynedd Council outlined the position as follows:

•           That the 2013/14 budget incorporates the costs of employment contracts, salary increments, adjustments for National Insurance and inflation in the budget for 2013/14.  The contribution of the Gwynedd and Anglesey Authorities has increased by 1.2%.

•           The current staffing structure of the Joint Committee is outlined below:

Number of full time equivalent posts:

•           8.1 psychologists

•           7.6 support teachers

•           6.4 administrative staff

•           A number of posts have been vacant during the year as well as staff being on maternity leave.  It has been difficult to find supply staff.  The situation led to a significant estimated underspend in the SEN Joint Committee’s account for the year split between the three staff teams as follows:

•           Psychologists                       £99,950

•           Support Teachers               £24,200

•           Administrative Staff            £14,050

Total                                               £138,200

Training costs are also estimated to be underspent by approximately £4,520 dependent on the availability of courses before the end of March 2014.

•           An estimated overspend of about £1,700 is anticipated in postage costs and a reduction of approximately £5,890 in the income generated by the Joint Committee through the provision of  training and the sale of publications to schools and the Authorities.

•           This amounts to a total estimated underspend of approximately £135,000 in this year’s accounts.  Having added this figure to the revised carry forward balance from 2012/13 it is estimated that the  Joint Committee’s balances will be approximately £300,000 by the end of the 2013/14  financial year which equates to nearly 30% of its budget.

•           The Joint Committee’s staff and the  Education Officers from both Authorities have made  temporary arrangements to reinforce staffing levels and continue to consider the best use of the remaining balances for the benefit of children and schools in Gwynedd and Anglesey.

The Senior Accountant stated that filling the vacant post would bring with it additional costs and it is not therefore possible for the Joint Committee to commit itself to expenditure that would have to be funded from the balances.

The Members of the Joint Committee considered the information on the financial position.  A suggestion was made that some of the underspend could be reimbursed to both Authorities and included in the budget for next year.

The Head of Education of Gwynedd Council stated that it would useful for the Joint Committee to receive a further analysis of the financial position, including the balances, to highlight permanent funding, the requirements to fill posts and the balances remaining after so doing.  If it subsequently transpires that there would be a considerable surplus there may be an opportunity to enter into dialogue with the Psychology Department of Bangor University on the possibility of supporting young people in their courses with a view to them considering committing to the area. He emphasised that there is an opportunity here for the Joint Committee to be proactive particularly in relation to Educational Psychologists and the specialist teachers and to look at alternative recruitment methods and to take a different approach rather than just advertising.  The Officer said that it is essential as a first step that the Joint Committee better understands what it has to offer.  Options have to be explored to attract young people to the profession in order to maintain the service and in order to do so the service has to be in a position to clarify the kind of support available based on a firm understanding of financial practicalities.

The Director of Lifelong Learning of the Isle of Anglesey County Council endorsed the above comments and stated that first of all the situation has to be resolved where prospective psychologists following psychology courses in England are required to work subsequently as Educational Psychologists in an Education Authority or a school in England.  He also suggested that more could be done to strengthen the profile of Educational Psychology in the schools.

The Members suggested that careful planning is needed within the Joint Committee’s budget so that a provision is built into the budget to avoid having to make use of balances.  It was emphasised that the balances would not have increased to such a degree were it not for the vacant posts on the establishment. It was noted that it is important that specific provision be made in the budget if it is agreed that there is an alternative approach that can be followed in relation to supporting and recruiting perspective psychologists and specialist teachers.

The Senior Education Accountant reminded the Joint Committee that the balances are one-off funds.

It was resolved:

•           To approve adopting the 2013/14 budget and to note that a further update on the position with regard to use of balances will be provided at the next meeting.

•           That the Joint Committee receives an analysis of the balances to highlight the amount of funds available to promote alternative approaches to attract educational psychologists/specialist teachers to work in Gwynedd and Anglesey.

ACTION POINT: Joint Committee Officers to consult to draw up a further analysis of the financial position for the next meeting.