An additional recommendation was agreed.

DECISION

1.    To agree to make discretionary awards in respect of students who are over compulsory school age particularly for students who are most in need of support based on household incomes for the financial year 2022/23.

2.    To recommend that further discretionary awards for future financial years will be a priority in the setting of the 2023-2026 MTFS but can only proceed beyond 31 March 2023 once that budgetary approval has been secured.

3.    To approve the proposed outline delivery plan for the Mayor’s Education Maintenance Allowance and University Bursaries.

4.    That the application deadline of 30 November 2022 (set out in Paragraph 8.1 of the report) be extended to 2 January 2023.

Action by:

CORPORATE DIRECTOR, CHILDREN AND CULTURE (J. THOMAS)

(Director of Education (S. Nyakatawa)

Councillor Maium Talukdar, Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Education, Youth and Lifelong Learning, introduced the report on the introduction of Education Maintenance Allowances and University Bursaries. He thanked officers for their hard work in bringing this paper to Cabinet so quickly after the election to meet key Mayoral Priorities. He explained that this support was extremely important to help young people achieve their aspirations.

During discussion, Cabinet noted that:

·         The Council had prepared a communications strategy to make sure residents were aware of the new funds.

·         There will be an audit trail of decisions and the scheme has been designed to be fair and to support those most in need.

The Mayor welcomed the report and the huge difference it will make to residents. He also thanked officers for their work on this issue. Finally, he asked that the deadline to submit applications be extended to 2 January and with this amendment he agreed the recommendations.  

RESOLVED

1.    To agree to make discretionary awards in respect of students who are over compulsory school age particularly for students who are most in need of support based on household incomes for the financial year 2022/23.

2.    To recommend that further discretionary awards for future financial years will be a priority in the setting of the 2023-2026 MTFS but can only proceed beyond 31 March 2023 once that budgetary approval has been secured.

3.    To approve the proposed outline delivery plan for the Mayor’s Education Maintenance Allowance and University Bursaries.

4.    That the application deadline of 30 November 2022 (set out in Paragraph 8.1 of the report) be extended to 2 January 2023.