Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed members to the meeting of the Forum and introductions were made.

Apologies for absence were received from Sue Challinor, Mark Sibson, Andrew Conroy, John Law and Tony Martin.

It was reported that Alan Beswick and Emma Johnstone were in attendance as observers.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 21 January 2016.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 21 January 2016 (copies of which had been circulated) were approved as a correct record subject to the inclusion of Janice Cahill in the list of those present at the meeting.

To discuss any matters arising.

Early Years Update (Minute 7 of 17 of 10 December 2015 meeting)

With regard to Minute number 7 from the meeting held on 10 December 2015 regarding whether the numbers of three & four year old children attending maintained nursery schools and classes were being affected by the growth in uptake of 2 year olds receiving early education funding, it was reported that the Headteachers of Cale Green Primary School and Queensgate Primary School had met with officers from Early Years to discuss the organisational issues maintained schools faced and how to overcome them and best support teachers.

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

The report provides Schools Forum members with an executive summary report of the business matters included on the main agenda.

Schools Forum is recommended to note the executive summary and offer any views, comments and feedback to be considered for future Executive summary reports.

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 Forum with an executive summary of the business matters included on the main agenda.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for People.

The report provides an update on the current situation over water and sewerage charges to North-West schools compared to schools in the South East.

Schools Forum is recommended to note the report and support the distribution of a briefing note to schools, governors, ward councillors and local MPs.

Officer Contact: Stephen Bell on 0161 474 3846 or email Stephen.bell@stockport.gov.uk.

A representative of the Corporate Director for People submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) updating the current situation over water and sewerage charges to North-West schools compared to schools in the South East.

There had been a DEFRA consultation around models of water / sewerage

charging that was reported in November 2015 which summarised the responses and given the relatively large number of responses from schools there was to be a further consultation in May-June 2016 about the guidance to be set out for Ofwat over charging. Schools were invited to use this opportunity to protest over the failure to accept that schools were a community asset, and therefore deserve a concessionary rate alongside that currently given to churches and scout huts.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Corporate Director for People be requested to distribute a briefing note to schools, governors, ward Councillors and local MPs regarding the issue.

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

The report provides an update on current developments regarding the schools insurance schemes and seeks to gain approval for an annual administration charge from the Sickness Insurance scheme and Balance of Risk scheme funds starting from the 2016 – 2017 policy year.

Schools Forum is recommended to note the contents of the above report and agree the administration charging proposal.

Officer Contact: Sarah Cook on 0161 474 4030 or email sarah.s.cook@stockport.gov.uk.

A representative of the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on current developments regarding the schools insurance schemes and seeking to gain approval for an annual administration charge from the Sickness Insurance scheme and Balance of Risk scheme funds starting from the 2016 – 2017 policy year.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the annual administration charges from the Sickness Insurance Scheme and Balance of Risk scheme funds starting from the 2016/2017 policy year be approved.

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

The report provides details of the final proposed amendments to the Scheme for Financing Schools document for approval following consultation with all school governing bodies.

Schools Forum is recommended to note the report and approve the proposed amendments.

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) detailing the final proposed amendments to the Scheme for Financing Schools document for approval following consultation with all school governing bodies.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the proposed amendments to the Scheme for Financing Schools document be approved.

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

The report details the minimum funding guarantee (MFG) protection mechanism applied to the schools delegated budget share allocation determined via the local funding formula model.

Schools Forum is asked to note 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) detailing the minimum funding guarantee (MFG) protection mechanism applied to the schools delegated budget share allocation determined via the local funding formula model.

The MFG calculation is set at the national rate determined by the DfE (currently - 1.5%) and the calculation used to determine the protection level is also set by the DfE to ensure a consistent approach is applied to all schools nationally. The LA and the Schools Forum have no flexibility under the current regulations to adjust the MFG level for any local circumstances.

There would be some form of MFG protection following the implementation of the National Funding Formula in April 2017, however it was unknown what level of protection there would be.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The report provides details of the income deprivation affecting child index (IDACI) proxy indicator used in the local schools formula model to distribute funding and the impact of the updated data set provided in 2015.

Schools Forum is asked to note 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) detailing the income deprivation affecting child index (IDACI) proxy indicator used in the local schools formula model to distribute funding and the impact of the updated data set provided in 2015.

It was suggested that finance support officers needed to be aware of the implications of the adjustment of funding values and use it in discussions with business managers.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The report details how the funding for school meals is allocated via different funding streams.

Schools Forum is asked to note the report and offer any comments.

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) detailing how the funding for school meals is allocated via different funding streams.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The report provides the final details of the 2016/17 Total Schools Budget constructed and financed predominantly by deployment of the dedicated schools grant (DSG).

Schools Forum is asked to note 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 final details of the 2016/17 Total Schools Budget constructed and financed predominantly by deployment of the dedicated schools grant (DSG).

The total available grant (DSG & Post 16 sixth form) totalled £199.682m. The Local Authority would be required to deploy DSG/School reserves at

£1.072m in order to meet the total resource level required to meet demands/needs and set a balanced budget for 2016/17.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services be requested to arrange a meeting of the DSG Review Group following the Easter break to look at the longer term budget sustainability issue.

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

The report provides members with details of the scheduled meetings for the 2015/16 academic year the proposed forward planner of Schools Forum business.

Schools Forum is invited 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) updating members with details of the scheduled meetings for the 2015/16 academic year and the proposed forward planner of Schools Forum business.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To discuss any other business.

The Director of Education Services reported that the white paper had been released. The document set out possible legislative framework and included the following:-

 “We will take new powers to direct schools to become academies in local authority areas which are underperforming or where the local authority no longer has capacity to maintain its schools; or where schools have not started the process of becoming an academy by 2020. This process will be complete by the end of 2022, by which point local authorities will no longer maintain any schools, so they can focus on delivering their core functions”.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         The Local Authority would respond to national change with the needs of children within the borough as the priority;

·         It was unclear from the white paper who would be responsible for Safeguarding or Pupil Referral Units;

·         Concerns were raised that there would be no role for Schools Forum and decisions would no longer be made locally;

·         The potential for the Local Authority to become a multi-academy trust was limited as the policy document was explicit in that schools should move out of Local Authority control.

A representative of the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services reported that the National Funding Formula consultation had been launched the previous week and there was a focus on Schools and High Needs Blocks, and that the Early Years was due later in the year.

There would be a two year transitional phase where the local formula could be applied however the DfE wanted schools to move towards the national formula in those two years, how this worked would depend on the MFG rate and whether it could be applied differently at a local level.

RESOLVED – That Local Authority officers meet with other F40 officers to discuss the consultation document and draft a response, and that this then be used to inform the local meeting to be arranged with Schools Forum members to construct a local Stockport response, and any information available to also be shared with the Primary Head Consortium prior to their meeting scheduled 1 April 2016 to discuss their response to the consultation.

The Chair reported that it would be Councillor Shan Alexander’s last meeting as a member of Schools Forum as she was standing down as a Councillor at the next election.

The Chair thanked Councillor Shan Alexander for her work on the forum and as an Executive Member and wished her the best in the future.

The next scheduled meeting of Schools Forum is 19 May 2016.

The next scheduled meeting of Schools Forum is 19 May 2016.