Issue - meetings

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

The report provides details of the proposed revisions to the Scheme for Financing Schools document to take effect from April 2016, following due consultation with all school governing bodies in the spring term 2016.

Schools Forum is asked to consider the detailed recommendations in the report.

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 details of the proposed revisions to the Scheme for Financing Schools document to take effect from April 2016, following due consultation with all school governing bodies in the spring term 2016.

The consultation document would provide detail on the DfE directed revisions to the Scheme and Local Authority proposed revisions. The Local Authority proposed revisions were based on enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of day to day operational matters, improving financial management, recognition of identified best practice and being responsive to the latest central government guidance/legislation. The proposed revisions would be presented in a formal consultation document and distributed to all schools in January 2016. It was proposed that the consultation period runs for 6 weeks from Monday 4 January to Friday 12 February 2016.

The three key Local Authority proposed revisions were relating to control of assets, service level agreements and contracts and procurement rules. The proposed revisions updated the Scheme to be clearer on specific matters as per the cross-reference exercise undertaken recently to the DfE model or updates to the Scheme to ensure the latest guidance/legislation matters were covered to protect both the Local Authority and Schools in such matters.

The Local Authority proposed to only seek responses from schools where they have any objections to the proposed revisions.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Schools should ensure that all leases undertaken on an ad hoc basis were operating leases as opposed to finance leases;

·         The short time frame for the consultation would make it difficult for schools to respond;

·         The timescale of the consultation period was governed by the need to implement the scheme by 1 April 2016;

·         School leaders and Chair of Governors would be contacted prior to the start of the consultation;

·         Concerns were raised about the potential for funding and costs of administering admission appeals being delegated to schools as part of their formula allocation;

·         Approving the scheme would provide the parameters to delegate the admission appeals service if it was necessary but further dialogue would take place before any delegation was implemented;

·         Further explanation was required regarding the delegation of the admission appeals service.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the consultation document be launched as per the draft document presented and discussed.

(3) That the Local Authority only seek responses from schools if they have any objections to the proposed amendments.