Agenda and minutes

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

Apologies for absence were received from Jon Roper, David Meller, Tony Martin, Karen Southwick and Ian Irwin.

It was reported that Emma Johnstone (Local Authority Officer) and Gerald O’Sullivan (St Philips Primary School)were in attendance as observers.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 17 March 2016.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 17 March 2016 (copies of which had been circulated) were approved as a correct record.

To discuss any matters arising.

Final 2016/17 Schools Budget (Minute 13 of 16 of 17 March 2016 meeting)

With regard to Minute number 13 from the meeting held on 17 March 2016 regarding arranging a meeting of the DSG Review Group, it was reported that this meeting had been put on hold in order to hear the outcome of the second stage consultation relating to the implementation of the new national fairer funding formula (NFFF) from the Department for Education, which was due later this term. The DSG Review Group would therefore meet again in early autumn term 2016.

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 recent consultation documents from the DfE and gives an update on the extension to 30 hours childcare for 3&4 year old children from September 2017.

Schools Forum is asked to note the report.

Officer Contact:  Glenda Brocklehurst on 0161 474 3947 or email Glenda.brocklehurst@stockport.gov.uk.

A representative of the Corporate Director for People submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on recent consultation documents from the DfE and giving an update on the extension to 30 hours childcare for 3&4 year old children from September 2017.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Stockport working in partnership with local schools and providers applied and had been chosen by the DfE as one of the 33 councils to be an early implementer innovator;

·         There had been an issue with the York pilot as the funding for the second 15 hours was not as much as the first 15 hours;

·         Following the full roll out in September 2017 there would be a single increased rate;

·         Concerns were raised that the policy did not address the issue of unemployed parents not being able to gain employment because of the cost of childcare;

·         The maintained sector could not compete with the PVI sector and needed support from the Local Authority to maintain the high quality provision offered;

·         There were a high number of maintained nursery places not being taken which posed sustainability issues.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for People.

The report provides information for Schools Forum on the impact of changes to inter-authority recoupment arrangements for the ‘top-up’ funding for pupils with a Statement or Education, Health and Care Plan, which came into effect from April 2013. The report also details changes for all Stockport maintained schools in the arrangements for the recoupment of this funding from September 2016.

Schools Forum is asked to note the report.

Officer Contact: Cathy Lyall on 0161 474 4463 or email cathy.lyall@stockport.gov.uk.

A representative of the Corporate Director for People submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing information for Schools Forum on the impact of changes to inter-authority recoupment arrangements for the ‘top-up’ funding for pupils with a Statement or Education, Health and Care Plan, which came into effect from April 2013. The report also detailed changes for all Stockport maintained schools in the arrangements for the recoupment of this funding from September 2016.

The DfE ‘School funding reform: Arrangements for 2013-14’ and the ‘Explanatory Memorandum to the Inter-Authority Recoupment (England) Regulations 2013 No. 492’ described that funding above the base level (‘top-up funding’) would pass directly between the providing local authority and the institution. To date in Stockport, this administrative task had continued to be provided to maintained institutions through the SEN department at no cost to schools.

It was proposed that from the 1^st September 2016 all schools would be required to make their own arrangements to recoup income for children and young people in their setting who were from other local authorities and in receipt of high needs top-up’ funding as a result of reduced central capacity to undertake the activity and to align Stockport’s procedure with the requirements identified in the fairer funding regulations 2013.

It was noted that the policy allows schools the opportunity to negotiate higher top-up amounts for children if their needs require it.

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 recent Department for Education (DfE) consultation document released 7 March 2016 relating to the Schools and High Needs Funding Reforms and details the joint Stockport Council / Schools Forum response submitted.

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 Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the recent Department for Education (DfE) consultation document released 7 March 2016 relating to the Schools and High Needs Funding Reforms and detailing the joint Stockport Council / Schools Forum response submitted.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The report provides Schools Forum with an update on the level of school reserves held in relation to insurance schemes that are administered by the Local Authority.

Schools Forum is asked to note the report and support the Local Authority proposals for redistribution at section 3.6.

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 level of school reserves held in relation to insurance schemes that are administered by the Local Authority.

All of the insurance schemes had reported an operating in-year surplus totalling £0.213m and following a review of reserve levels held/ schemes streamlined a total £0.373m was available for redistribution to schools. In line with previous Schools Forum discussions it was proposed that all surplus monies would be redistributed pro-rata to the schools who had bought back into the relevant schemes.

It was noted that Moat House PRU was not listed for receipt of any monies but had joined two schemes in the year. The appropriate level of pro-rata surplus monies due would be redistributed to them and taken from central reserves as opposed to adjusting the figures stated for all other Schools/PRUs.

Concerns were raised at the potential for the scheme to become unviable in the future, should insufficient schools buy in.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Local Authority’s proposed redistribution of surplus funds from maintained insurance schemes be approved.

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

The report provides School Forum members with the final detailed analysis of the total school balances position recorded as at 31 March 2016.The report also details the application of the excessive school surplus balance mechanism process applied to schools reporting a surplus balance above the 12% threshold level as per the Scheme for Financing Schools document.

Schools Forum is asked to not 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) outlining the final detailed analysis of the total school balances position recorded as at 31 March 2016.The report also detailed the application of the excessive school surplus balance mechanism process applied to schools reporting a surplus balance above the 12% threshold level as per the Scheme for Financing Schools document.

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 final 2015/16 Total Schools Budget reported out-turn position.

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 Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the final 2015/16 Total Schools Budget reported out-turn position.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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”.

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, the proposed meeting dates for the 2016/17 academic year and the proposed forward planner of Schools Forum business.

It was reported that the December 2016 meeting should read Thursday 8^th and the January 2017 meeting should read Thursday 26^th.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To discuss any other business.

The Director of Education Services reported that following the recent local election, Cllr Dean Fitzpatrick was due to be appointed as the Executive Councillor for Education at the Annual Council Meeting on Tuesday 24^th May.

RESOLVED – That the Democratic Services Manager be requested to distribute the details of the Executive Portfolios to the Forum following their approval at the Annual Council Meeting.

The next scheduled meeting of Schools Forum is 7 July 2016.

The next scheduled meeting of Schools Forum is 7 July 2016.