Minutes:
Matt Redwood gave a verbal update on the ESG. He explained that the ESG is a contributing strand of funding in the Council’s overall budget allocation.
ESG is reducing substantially in 2015/16: in the region of £600,000. However, this is in the context of the overall financial position of Slough Borough Council where funding is reducing by about 30% over four years. The Council’s budget setting process has to match income to expenditure across all departments of the Council. A reduction in ESG is not linked directly to the provision of services in Children’s Services but is part of the overall position across the Council. It is likely that where there are significant changes in provision there will be appropriate consultation. Robin Crofts added that this would also be picked up through the contract between Cambridge Education and the LA.