This decision approves the drawdown from the Financial Resilience Reserve, a total of £11.49m to support the ongoing delivery of the Children’s Services Improvement Plan.

This further investment will build on and maintain the pace of improvements already delivered in 2021/22 and provide the foundations for a more secure and resilient service for the future. This funding will be allocated in two tranches, with £5m in tranche one from April 2022 and a further £6.49m from July 2022 when detailed progress against plans will also be reported.

It was resolved that:

a)  The drawdown of up to £11.49m from the Financial Resilience Reserve, in two tranches as laid out above, is approved to support resourcing the transformation stage of children’s services; and

b)  Cabinet note the increased base budget requirement for 2023/24 onwards.