Agenda and minutes

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

To report any apologies for absence or substitutions.

Apologies for absence were received from Karen Southwick and Danny Pearson.

To record any observers present.

It was reported that Darren Ripley (ATL Union) was in attendance as an observer.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 16 March 2017.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 16 March 2017 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To discuss any matters arising.

A representative of the Borough Treasurer provided an update in relation to item 13 (i) School Water Sewerage charges.  Following the lobbying of United Utilities Water Company, in a campaign led by Sefton Council, notification had been received that United Utilities would reduce school charges by 50% in 2018/19 and would also be applying a retrospective 15% credit to the 2017/18 school bills.

RESOLVED – (i) That this update be noted.

(ii) That a communication would be sent to all schools as soon as possible.

To consider a report of the Borough Treasurer.

The report provides School 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) which provided the Forum with an executive summary of the business matters on the agenda.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Borough Treasurer.

The report provides Schools Forum members with detail of the final 2016/17 Total Schools Budget reported outturn 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 Borough Treasurer submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which provided the Forum with details of the final 2016/17 Total Schools Budget reported outturn position.

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         Members of the Forum were advised that the net adjusted outturn (£0.417m) was to be credited to the DSG reserve and would be utilised to support the 2018/19 budget setting process.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Borough Treasurer

The report provides School Forum members with the final detailed analysis of the total school balances position recorded as at 31 March 2017.

The report also provides details of 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 Members are asked to note the report.

Officer contact:  Peter Hughes on 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 School’s Forum members with the final detailed analysis of the total school balances position recorded as at 31 March 2017.

The report also provided details of 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 – (i) That the report be noted.

(ii) That a further update on outcomes of excessive surplus balance control mechanism to be provided as soon as possible.

To consider a report of the Borough Treasurer.

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

Schools Forum members are asked to:

a)    Note the above report;

b)   Support the LA proposals for no further action to be taken; and

c)    Offer any further comments

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) which provided Schools’ Forum members with an update on the level of school reserves held in relation to the insurance schemes that are administered by the Local Authority on behalf of schools (i.e. Long Term Sickness and Balance of Risks).

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         A query was raised in relation to the increased administrative recharge to be applied to each of the schemes in 2017/18 as per section 3.5 of the report.

RESOLVED (i) – That the report be noted.

(ii) The Schools Forum support the Local Authority proposal for no further action.

To consider a report of the Borough Treasurer.

The report provides Schools Forum Members with an update on the requirement for schools to complete the self-assessment process against the Schools Financial Value Standard (SFVS).

The report also provides Schools Forum Members with information regarding the schools the Local Authority Schools Finance team supported through the process via a service level agreement (SLA).

The report also provides details of good practice identified across the sectors.

Schools Forum members are asked to:

a) Note the above report;

b) To share information with the wider school sector population and seek to explore further collaboration opportunities and/or implement identified “good practice”;

c) To identify and inform schools finance team of any alternative and/or further training/support required; and

d) Offer any further comments and/or request any further actions to be undertaken.

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) which provided Schools Forum Members with an update on the requirement for schools to complete the annual self-assessment process against the Schools Financial Value Standard (SFVS).

The report also provided Schools Forum Members with information regarding the schools that the Local Authority Schools Finance team had supported through the process via a Service Level Agreement (SLA).

The report further provided details of good practice identified across the sectors.

RESOLVED – (i) That the report be noted.

(ii)  That information be shared with the wider school sector population in order to explore further collaboration opportunities and/or implement identified ‘good practice’.

(iii) To identify and inform schools finance team of any alternative and/or further training/support required.

To consider a report of the Borough Treasurer.

The report provides Schools Forum Members with the details of the latest information released by the Department for Education (DfE) regarding all local authorities 2017/18 schools local formula funding models implemented

Schools Forum members are asked to:

a)    Note the above report; and

b)    Offer any further comments.

Officer contact: Peter Hughes on 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 latest information released by the Department for Education (DfE) regarding all Local Authority schools local formula funding models which had been implemented for 2017/18

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         Members of the Forum were advised that unfortunately it was not possible to update the DfE document with details of the Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council local funding formula detail until a separate document was received from the DfE.  In the meantime, any members who wished to compare Stockport Council’s formula data to the DfE document would be required to refer to the Local Authority Schools Formula data which was provided in the January 2017 report to members.

RESOLVED – (i) That the report be noted.

(ii)  Updated information was to be provided as soon as possible, subject to receipt of the required document from the DfE.

To consider a report of the Borough Treasurer.

The report provides Schools’ Forum members with an update on the current budget position relating to deployment of the dedicated schools grant (DSG).

Schools Forum members are asked to:

a)    Note the above report; and

b)   Offer any comments / views.

Officer contact: Peter Hughes on 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 an update on the current budget position relating to deployment of the dedicated schools grant (DSG).

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         Members of the Forum were advised that key matters relating to schools and high needs block activities were subject to any further announcements due following the recent Stage 2 consultations.

·         A query was raised in relation to Resourced Provision funding model and programme of works timeframe.  In response, members were advised that this strand of the programme was expected to commence in autumn 2017 and continue potentially until autumn 2018 with any planned changes to take effect from April or September 2019.

RESOLVED (i) That the report be noted.

(ii) That a further update was to be provided in due course, as appropriate.

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 report also provides Schools Forum members with the opportunity to request reports for future meetings and/or make amendments to the forward planner (Appendix 1).  The report further provides Schools Forum members with the opportunity to request any items for training/development sessions.

Schools Forum is invited to consider the detailed recommendations in the report.

Officer contact: Peter Hughes on 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 Members with details of the scheduled meetings for the 2017/18 academic year.  The report also provided Schools Forum members with the opportunity to request reports for future meetings and/or make amendments to the forward planner (Appendix 1).  The report further provided Schools Forum members with the opportunity to request any items for training/development sessions.

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         Schools’ Forum members raised no objections to the proposed dates and therefore these dates would be confirmed for the new 2017/18 academic year.

·         There was currently no planned Schools Forum business for the 6 July meeting and so it was proposed that the 6 July 2017 meeting be postponed.

·         It was further agreed that there should be no requirement to hold a further meeting this term, however this is subject to any key announcements/urgent business matters that may require attention following any DfE announcements post General Election in relation to Schools Funding and particularly the recent Stage 2 Consultation matters.

RESOLVED – (i) That the report be noted.

(ii) That the Schools Forum meeting scheduled for 6 July 2017 be cancelled.

To discuss any other business.

(i)            Schools Forum Association

The Chair of the Forum had recently received information from a Governor/Chair of a Forum in London who was seeking expressions of interest from other Local Authorities/Schools Forum in relation to the creation of an Association.  The Association would be a potential conduit for key information exchange, colleague dialogue, training development materials, access to key DfE Policy Advisors and so on.  No cost information was available and the Chair sought approval from Members to pursue/express an interest at this stage on behalf of the Forum.

RESOLVED – That the Chair of the Schools Forum express initial interest in the forming of a Schools Forum Association.

(ii)          Resignation and Vacancies

Debbie Grindrod (Headteacher St George’s) had tendered her resignation from the Schools Forum and a vacancy now existed for a primary school Headteacher representative. 

RESOLVED – A representative of the Borough Treasurer to contact the Chair of the Primary Headteacher Consortia to seek a new representative.

(iii)         Meeting Times

As discussed at the last meeting of the Schools Forum all meetings will now be as follows:

4.00pm     Pre Agenda

4.30pm     Main Business

6.00pm     Close of Meeting.

The next scheduled meeting of Schools Forum is 6 July 2017.