Agenda and minutes

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

Apologies for absence were received from Debbie Grindrod, Mark Sibson, Karen Southwick and Cllr Mark Weldon.

It was reported that Nick Bennett (St James’ High School), Alan Beswick (Head of School Improvement), Cllr Dickie Davies and Emma Johnstone (Schools Finance) were in attendance as observers.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 8 December 2016.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 8 December 2016 were approved as a correct record, subject to the inclusion of Darren Ripley (substitute for Dawn Taylor) as an attendee.

To discuss any matters arising.

Admission Appeal Funding Arrangements (Minute 8 of 1, 8 December Meeting)

With regard to Minute number 8 from the meeting held on 8 December 2016 regarding funding arrangements for Admission Appeals, it was reported that a subsequent report would be submitted to the Schools Forum meeting scheduled for March 2017.

To consider a report of the Borough Treasurer.

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 Borough Treasurer 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 Borough Treasurer.

The report provides Schools’ Forum members with details of the 2017/18 Schools Funding Settlement released on 20 December 2016 by the Department for Education (DfE).

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 Borough Treasurer submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing details of the 2017/18 Schools Funding Settlement released on 20 December 2016 by the Department for Education (DfE).

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         The Local Authority was already compliant with all but one of the funding reform controls and measures as part of the Early Years National Funding Formula.

·         The Education Services Grant included the general funding rate which had been reduced over time and was being disbanded in September 2017 and the funding impact on the Local Authority had been built into the Medium Term Financial Plan. The retained duties rate would be transferred into the Dedicated Schools Grant Schools’ Block from April 2017 to cover the statutory duties and responsibility the Local Authority retains for all schools and would be transferred to Local Authority fund as per agreement at the previous Schools Forum meeting.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Borough Treasurer.

The report provides an update on the 2017/18 dedicated schools grant (DSG) revenue funding allocated by the Department for Education (DfE), and the construction of the total 2017/18 Schools Budget.

Schools Forum is asked to note report.

Officer Contact: Peter Hughes on 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) providing an update on the 2017/18 dedicated schools grant (DSG) revenue funding allocated by the Department for Education (DfE), and the construction of the total 2017/18 Schools Budget.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         There were four primary schools whose Free School Meal data was higher than the Ever 6 data.

·         It was agreed at the previous meeting of Schools Forum that the Early Years Single Funding Formula base rate be reduced by 1.5% to ensure the total Early Years Block costs remain within the ring-fenced level of funding. Further concerns had since been raised by the PVI sector surrounding the sustainability of nursery provision should the reduction take place.

·         The High Needs Block already had significant cost pressures and Schools Forum was not agreeable to allocating funding from the Schools Block to the Early Years Block.

·         Maintained schools with nursery provision were also facing sustainability issues and any reduction in early years funding would increase the need for some schools to use funding allocated for statutory provision to sustain their nursery provision.

·         It was hoped that changes to staffing ratios for nursery settings as previously discussed with Schools Forum would help to alleviate the need for primary schools to subsidise their nursery provision with funding allocated to statutory provision.

·         Some providers in the PVI sector were already operating at a loss and a reduction in funding would potentially result in a loss of nursery places.

·         The implementation of the National Funding Formula would pose further significant challenges to Early Years provision.

·         It was acknowledged that if the 1.5% reduction in the Early Years Single Funding Formula base rate did not go forward, the Dedicated Schools Grant budget would be overspent by £180,000 which would have to be addressed in future years.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Ever 6 Free School Meal data be overridden for the four schools whose actual Free School Meal data was higher, at a cost of £7,000 to be funded from the Schools Block.

(3) That the letter of objection from the PVI sector be submitted to the Executive as an addendum to Education Funding Settlement and Local Formula 2017/18 report.

(4) That the final details relating to the construction of the 2017/18 high needs block budget be provided to Schools Forum members at the next meeting.

To consider a report of the Borough Treasurer.

The report details the Final 2017/18 Local Authority (LA) annual pro-forma toolkit (APT) return to be submitted to the Department for Education (DfE).

Schools Forum is asked to note report and endorse providing schools the figures outlined in the report as “Indicative” budget allocations following the meeting.

Officer Contact: Peter Hughes on 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) detailing the Final 2017/18 Local Authority (LA) annual pro-forma toolkit (APT) return to be submitted to the Department for Education (DfE).

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That schools be provided with indicative budget allocation figures as outlined in the report, subject to amendments resulting from the change in the Free School Meal allocation as per Minute 8.

To consider a report of the Borough Treasurer.

The report details the national fairer funding formula (NFFF) stage two consultation documents for schools and high needs released by the Department for Education (DfE) on 14 December 2016.

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 Borough Treasurer submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing details of the National Fairer Funding Formula (NFFF) stage two consultation documents for schools and high needs released by the Department for Education (DfE) on 14 December 2016.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         As part of the new formula, larger schools with high deprivation levels would generally receive additional funding but smaller schools with lower deprivation levels would lose funding.

·         Officers were having briefings with all key stakeholders, including attendance at Primary and Secondary Consortia meetings, and were formulating a draft response to the consultation.

·         The proposed “funding floor” which prevented schools from facing a funding reduction of more than 3% per pupil overall prevented the formula from achieving the overall desired outcomes.

·         Whilst F40 authorities would gain £160m in extra funding through the new funding formula, concerns were raised that it still was not enough to address the funding issues F40 authorities faced.

·         Early guidance on how to respond to the consultation was sought to enable Schools Forum members to encourage other stakeholders to respond. In response it was confirmed that the F40 draft response would soon be available.

·         In addition to the Local Authority’s response, the Labour Group was proposing to respond to the consultation and would be writing to the four MPs that covered the Stockport Borough.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Borough Treasurer.

The report provides members with details of the scheduled meetings for the 2016/17 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 Borough Treasurer submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) updating members with details of the scheduled meetings for the 2016/17 academic year and the proposed forward planner of Schools Forum business.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That future meetings of the Schools Forum continue to be held at Aquinas College.

To discuss any other business.

There was no other business.

The next scheduled meeting of Schools Forum is 16 March 2017.

RESOLVED – That the next meeting of the Schools Forum be held on Thursday 16 March 2017 at 4.15pm at Aquinas College, Nangreave Road, Stockport with an optional question and answer session on the reports to be held prior to the commencement of the meeting at 3.45pm.