Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services.

To discuss further with Schools Forum members the Schools Budget landscape and Local Authority (LA) plan to undertake a review of all activities within the Schools Budget financed predominantly by the dedicated schools grant (DSG).

Schools Forum members are asked to note the report, provide any views and determine who will represent each phase on the review group.

Officer contact: Peter Hughes on 0161 474 3947 or email peter.hughes@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing the opportunity for Schools Forum members to discuss the Schools Budget landscape and Local Authority plan to undertake a review of all activities within the Schools Budget financed predominantly by the dedicated schools grant (DSG).

It was reported that it was feasible to expect that there was not going to be any significant revenue investment into the schools national funding envelope following the general election in May 2015 given the overall constraints on all public spending.

The current 2015/16 baseline Schools Budget position provides the LA with a short-medium term sustainability issue in terms of Schools Budget costs against available resources, as the deployment of DSG reserves at the current level cannot be sustained beyond 2016/17 at latest.

Schools Forum members discussed the plan to undertake a review of all activities within the Schools Budget financed predominantly by DSG. It was reported that the first planned review group meeting would be held as soon as possible after the Easter holiday break and volunteers requested details of a meeting date be provided before Easter break if possible.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the following members be nominated to represent each phase of education on the review group:

Governor – Ian Roberts

Nursery – Cathy Larkin

Primary -  Helen Hilton

Secondary – Ian Irwin

Special – John Law (Headteacher at Castle Hill)

Academy – Colin Short

PRUs – Janice Cahill

Resourced Provisions – Sue Challiner
Post 16 – Danny Pearson