Issue - meetings

This report responds to the agreed action in the quarter two budget monitoring report for 2025/26 for the Corporate Director for Children’s Services to bring forward to December Cabinet a detailed report on the DSG high needs expenditure forecast and available mitigation measures. This report also seeks Council approval for additional resources required over the approved budget.

The quarter two budget monitoring for the DSG reported to the council’s Cabinet on 26 November was a projected increase in the high needs funding gap for 2025/26 from the budgeted gap of £57.5m to £71.8m. This reflects higher than expected growth in demand in the later months of the last financial year with this unabated and with a significant increase in the costs of pupil placements. 

The cumulative deficit at 31 March 2026 is projected to be £183.1m.