Issue - meetings

The Cabinet Member for Finance, Growth and Core Services introduced the Barking and Dagenham School Improvement Partnership (BDSIP) Business Plan for 2023 - 2026.

The Cabinet Member explained that BDSIP was a not-for-profit organisation, with any surplus income generated being reinvested to improve the life-chances of young people in the Borough.  The new Business Plan set out the key achievements against the 2020 - 2023 Business Plan and the vision, values, and strategic direction and priorities going forward, which were:

Ø  Growing the client base beyond Barking and Dagenham so that, by 2026, BDSIP generate an additional 20% of its income from schools outside the borough (2022-23 baseline);

Ø  Maintain service excellence, delivering a demonstrable, positive impact for all schools it worked in partnership with; and

Ø  Develop its talent and remain an employer of choice for the best, most aspirational education professionals.

The Cabinet Member referred to the challenges faced by BDSIP as a consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic, which severely impacted a number of areas of the organisation’s business, and the withdrawal by the Government of core funding via the Dedicated Support Grant (DSG) by 2025/26. 

Cabinet Members expressed their full support for the Business Plan and commended the work undertaken by BDSIP.  With reference to the Covid-19 pandemic and a report later on the evening’s agenda relating to Social Value commitments that the Council sought from contractors, it was suggested that significant focus should be given to re-establishing work experience placements for the Borough’s young people.

Cabinet resolved to endorse the BDSIP Business Plan 2023 - 2026 as set out at Appendix 1 to the report.