Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Borough Treasurer.

The report provides Schools’ Forum members with updates of the 2020/21 budget setting process in relation to the total Schools Budget predominantly financed by deployment of the dedicated schools grant (DSG).

Schools Forum members are asked to:

a)    Note the report;

b)   Offer any comments/views where outlined;

c)    Approve the proposed central reserve at £0.450m (section 5.7);

d)   Determine the final de-delegation decisions for 2020/21 (section 5.9 – primary and secondary maintained reps only); and

e)    Approve the proposed CSSB resource budget allocations for 2020/21 (section 6.4 and Appendix 3)

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

A representative of the Borough Treasurer submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which provided Schools’ Forum members with details of the construction of the 2020/21 budget information.

A representative of the Borough Treasuer gave an overview of the key aspects of the report and the construction of each block within the DSG Schools Budget and the differences/updates to the recent/latest DfE figures issued.

The following comments were made/issues raised:

• The extra pupils (22) at Castle Hill from Sept 2020 – happen every year or just one-off? – Unknown at this point in time.
• Will placing the pupils at Castle Hill save money? – Yes
• How much money does the LA spend on out of area provision? - £4.5m on approx. 130 pupils
• Secondary HT’s – work that Bev is doing is really positive but still don’t know how this work will stop future block transfer requests?
• Primary HT – support children with complex needs but not getting enough funding;
• Struggling to meet the needs of vulnerable children / not getting fair share of HN block to help schools

A representative of the Borough Treasurer provided an update on the DSG review and the key pieces of work currently being undertaken.

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         Officers outlined the next steps planned and the timeline of activity (i.e. the final report to Cabinet in February 2020) and further updates/reports to Schools’ Forum members at the January 2020 meeting.

·         Inclusions & Outcomes - pilot re: Stockport Enhanced Learning Fund (ELF) Scheme – report to be provided to SEND Group in January 2020

·         Special School bandings / profiling Resourced Provision pupils

·         Further works to be undertaken with Early Years and Post-16 provision

Timescales:

·         Gathering data – end of December 2019

·         Report available – end of January 2020

·         Cabinet meeting – planned for 13 March 2020, any delays/issues would mean next available Cabinet meeting be June 2020 (due to purdah relating to Local Elections in May)

Survey to be provided to schools early January 2020 on Speech & Language

RESOLVED  (a)       That the report be noted;

                        (b)       Members approved the Central Reserve at £0.450m;

(c)        De-Delegation for Primary and Secondary sector confirmed as “status quo” for 2020/21;

(d)       Members approved the CSSB allocations as per Appendix 3

(e)       Members approved the methodology to be applied to any available “headroom” monies as per section 5.10