Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for People.

The report provides the Scrutiny Committee with the opportunity to comment on the draft joint Local Authority (LA) and Schools response and seek any additional views/comments.

The Scrutiny Committee are invited to consider and comment on the report.

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

A representative of the Corporate Director for People submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing the Committee with an update on the draft response for the Stage 2 Consultation on the National Funding Formula.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Councillors noted that the impact on individual schools would differ from school to school in the borough depending on the current baseline funding for each school. Some schools would gain and some would lose.

·         It was noted that given the current financial climate and the cost pressures faced by schools which included pay awards, increased employer costs, inflation and the new apprenticeship levy, realistically no school would benefit under the proposed formula in Stockport or the country as a whole.

·         The consultation period for the NFF proposals remained live until 22 March 2017 and the response would reflect the views of both the Council and School Leaders.

·         Officers noted Councillors requests to consider amendment to the tone and language in parts of the report to reflect the views expressed that the Council should not be in competition with neighbouring authorities, rather the proposed formula was not fair for any Local Authorities.

·         Councillors endorsed the responses detailed in Appendix 1 of the report subject to the comments above.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.