Agenda and decisions

To note any declarations of interest from councillors. They are asked to

indicate the relevant agenda item, the nature of the interest and in particular

whether it is a disclosable pecuniary interest.

Any declaration of interest made at the meeting which is not on the register of

interests should be notified to the Monitoring Officer for inclusion.

To receive any announcements from the Chair.

Up to 30 minutes is allowed for this item.

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Questions

1.      Written public questions must be received by 5.00 pm, at least 3 clear working days prior to the meeting. For this meeting, this means that questions must be received at the latest by 5.00 pm on Thursday 1 May. Public Questions should be submitted via our webform: www.bristol.gov.uk/publicforum

2.      Any individual can submit up to 3 written questions.

3.      Written replies to questions will be available on the Council’s website at least one hour before the meeting.

4.      At the meeting, questioners will be permitted to ask up to 2 oral supplementary questions.

Statements

1.      Written statements must be received at latest by 12.00 noon, at least 2 working days prior to the meeting. For this meeting, this means that statements must be received at the latest by 12.00 noon on Tuesday 6 May. Public Questions and Statements should be submitted via our webform: www.bristol.gov.uk/publicforum

2.      Statements, provided they are no more than 1,000 words in length, will be circulated to all committee members and will be published on the Council’s website at least one hour before the meeting.

Petitions

1.      Details of the wording of any petitions, and the number of signatories to petitions must be received at latest by 12.00 noon, at least 2 working days prior to the meeting. For this meeting, this means that petition details must be received at the latest by 12.00 noon on Tuesday 6 May. Please email petition details to policycommittees@bristol.gov.uk

2.      At the meeting, individuals presenting petitions may be required to read out the objectives of the petition.

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The Committee RESOLVED:

- To note the report.

The Committee RESOLVED (unanimous vote in favour):

1. To approve the Families First programme and updated Full Business Case, in the form of the addendum attached to the report (the Full Business Case was originally approved at the Children and Young People Committee in January 2025).

2. To authorise the Executive Director: Children & Education, in consultation with Chairs of the Children and Young People Committee and the Strategy and Resources Committee, as well as the Director of Finance, to take all steps required to implement the Families First programme, including procuring and awarding contracts over the key decision threshold, in line with the maximum budget envelopes allocated for 2025/26 and as outlined in the report (subject to approval of the transformation budget by the Strategy and Resources Committee on 19 May 2025).

3. To acknowledge the full scope of programmes and projects that constitute the Children & Education transformation portfolio in 2025/26 and the associated savings that are to be secured in this period.

4. To note that an update report on progress of the transformation and savings portfolio will be brought back to committee in August 2025.

The Committee RESOLVED (5 members voting in favour and 2 against):

1. To authorise the Executive Director: Children and Education in consultation with the Chair of the Children and Young People Committee to procure and award the Independent Visitors and Advocacy contracts, in-line with the procurement routes and maximum budget envelopes outlined in the report.

2. To authorise the Executive Director: Children and Education to invoke any subsequent extensions/variations specifically defined in the contract(s) being awarded, up to the maximum budget envelope outlined in the report.

The Committee RESOLVED:

To note:

1. The General Fund forecast outturn revenue overspend of £23.4 million at P10 2024/25 against the council approved budget.

2. The performance on delivery of savings (Appendix A2).

3. The no change to Risks and Opportunities (Section B Appendix A2)

4. The forecast net outturn position of £17.6m in the Dedicated Schools Grant and that this brings the carry forward deficit to £91.6 million. Following the application of the DfE’s 24/25 Safety Valve combined with contribution from the General Fund, a total £54.7 million is forecast to be carried forward at the year-end in the DSG deficit reserve.

5. The council’s forecast position against the Capital Programme revised budget 2024/25 (Appendix A2, Section C).

The Committee RESOLVED:

- To note the report.

The Committee RESOLVED (unanimous vote in favour):

1. To approve the proposal to relocate Elmfield Secondary school to the current Badock’s Wood Academy school site, supporting the proposals with additional £7.214m capital funding, subject to completion of the Education Capital Programme review to confirm release of the remainder of the funds and subject to approval of the final business case as delegated.

2. To accept the grant allocation from the Department for Education for High Needs Provision Capital Allocation of £3,816,159 for 2025/2026.

3. To accept the grant allocation from the Department for Education for School Condition Allocation of £2,280,873 for 2025/2026.

4. To note the impact of the proposal on remaining Education funds as outlined in the report.