Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Patricia Goodstat, Michael Clarke, Malcolm Graves, Gillian Stunell, Councillor Ann Smith, Simon Finch and Councillor Stuart Bodsworth.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 20 October 2011

The Minutes (copies of which were presented at the meeting) of the meeting held on 20 October 2011 were approved as a correct record.

It was reported that Deborah Woods had given up her place on the Forum as she is retiring and will be replaced by Lesley Abercromby. The Forum thanked Deborah for her service. The Forum welcomed Lesley Abercromby who will represent Special Schools and Walter Grundy, who will represent Secondary Governors. A revised membership list was presented for the Forum’s information.

The Corporate Director for Place submitted a report (copies of which have been circulated) providing an update on the Retained School Budget (RSB) review. The report detailed the Local Authority’s recommendations which will be presented to the Executive Board for approval regarding the services within Phase 1 of the RSB review. The report further outlined in detail the make-up of the remaining areas of the RSB which will be included in the phase 2 review and also the factors which influence its size relative to other Local Authorities. It also outlined the likely changes to financial arrangements emanating from the Schools Funding Reform proposals for the services covered in Phase 2. It was requested that all sector representatives share with their colleagues and provide feedback to the Local Authority in respect of the phase 2 recommendations by 15^th January 2012.

Phase 1 of the review was discussed and the following comments were made/issues raised:-

• The funding review being carried out by DfE will hopefully provide clarity next year, however there has been no confirmation as to when this will be completed. Some elements will have to be implemented in 2012/3 but it is quite possible that anything not implemented may be finalised at a much later time possibly after a general election. The secondary sector reported their preference to a move towards further SLAs and this was a particular consideration regarding Academy status.
• Secondary Headteachers suggested that the whole of the EIP budget should not be retained centrally, only the Primary Jigsaw element. However, if the EIP budget was broken down into parts in this way it would make it inefficient to create individual SLA’s in this way.
• Learning mentors who are located in schools are outside this process as schools have such funding within their delegated budgets.
• If the reserve was not spent, then this would become additional funding available to the Schools Budget and further discussion take place with the Forum as to how such monies be deployed.
• Headroom funds are calculated separately and are not part of the RSB review.

Phase 2 of the review, covers a wide range of service/support areas, including the contingency based budgets contained within the RSB. The following comments were made/issues raised:-

• If the funds that are retained in the RSB are not spent then the LA will report the year-end position to the Schools Forum and decision on deployment will be determined.
• If retained centrally, these budgets could be seen as being similar to an insurance policy.
• A Comment was made that the current funding arrangements for Academies were unsustainable. Next year’s formula will be based on how many Academies there are within each Local Admissions Authority’s area and all schools will be treated the same when budgets are being allocated. Academies would be able to buy in to services provided by the LA but will only have the same allocation.
• Services that have been grouped together within the budget groups are not necessarily similar- for instance kitchen condition surveys and Newly Qualified Teachers. For ease of consideration these should be separated.
• It would be feasible for the primary and secondary sectors to have  separate approaches to funding methodologies if they so desired. For example, primary schools could request to keep the monies in the RSB and secondary schools request to have it delegated to each individual school.
• The comparison of Virtual School budgets between Boroughs will need reviewing as there were questions regarding some of the figures and whether they represent full expenditure in all Boroughs. It was noted that the expenditure in Stockport seem inflated as its scheme was a national pilot and the borough takes responsibility for more Look After Children’s education when compared to other authorities..

RESOLVED – (1) That the proposals be discussed and feedback given by 15^th January 2012.

(2) Phase 1 service areas identified as a “funding requirement” (c. £0.421m)  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

Verbal update, if available

No announcement has been made as yet, although early indications have been made by DfE staff as discussed in item 4.

Due to the complex nature of the matters discussed by the Forum, members were asked if they feel they would benefit from any form of training. Sessions could be half an hour before or after the main business of scheduled meetings and members were encouraged suggest relevant topics to be discussed.

RESOLVED – (1) That training/development be included as a standard item on the agenda.

(2) Written notes will be made available after sessions for interested members who are unable to attend.

(3) That members contact Donna Sager/Peter Hughes with any suggestions.

(4) That a list of acronyms used by the Forum be circulated with the minutes.

The Forum considered a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing a schedule of meetings for the 2011-12 academic year.

RESOLVED – (1) That the first meeting of the spring term be moved to Tuesday 31^st January to avoid a clash with a meeting of secondary headteachers.

(2) That the Schools Forum meetings for the academic year 2011-12 be held as follows:-

No other business was discussed.

RESOLVED – that the next meeting of the Schools Forum be held on Tuesday 31^st January 2012, 4.15pm at Kingsway School (Lower).