Issue - meetings

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

The report provides an update on the requirement for schools to complete the self-assessment process against the Schools Financial Value Standard (SFVS), information of the schools the Local Authority (LA) Schools Finance team supported through the process via a service level agreement (SLA) and details of good practice identified across the sectors.

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 Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on the requirement for schools to complete the self-assessment process against the Schools Financial Value Standard (SFVS), information of the schools the Local Authority (LA) Schools Finance team supported through the process via a service level agreement (SLA) and details of good practice identified across the sectors.

The schools finance team provided advice, support and assistance to schools via three avenues. These were the universal training program to all school governors including introduction to the new standard, the process and requirements; the production of a be-spoke Stockport council schools SFVS guide book to all schools; and targeted support to schools via a SLA providing a facilitation service through the process. This support was provided to 22 schools in 2015/16 and as schools became more familiar with the process and fewer changes were required then it was envisaged that there would be less need for support from the Local Authority’s finance team.

It was reported that the main requirement of the Local Authority was to ensure each maintained school provided a response and that there was not capacity to assess each return in detail, however all returns were made available to Internal Audit.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That members of Schools Forum be requested to share information with the wider school sector population and seek to explore further collaboration opportunities and/or implement identified “good practice”.