Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed members.

Apologies for absence were received from Jenny Gow, Dawn Strachan, Gillian Stunnell and Catherine Wild.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 21 March 2013.

The minutes (copies of which have been circulated) of the meeting held on 21 March 2013 were approved as a correct record.

To discuss any matters arising.

Damian Cunningham provided an update on the Admissions discussions with VA schools. Further consideration would be given to how such arrangements are operated in other Authorities.

A discussion took place regarding availability of school places, Donna Sager offered to provide an update regarding high schools and Brinnington pupils.

The Chair also reported that providers of Carbon Reduction Commitment programmes were being contacted and their services compared.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director (Services to People).

The report provides an update on the key points of the DfE “Consultation on proposed changes to the role of the local authority in early education and childcare” and Stockport local authority’s response.

Officer contact Glenda Brocklehurst, Tel: 218 1863, email: glenda.brocklehurst@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director, Services to People, submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) updating the Schools Forum on the key points of the Department for Education ‘Consultation on proposed changes to the role of the local authority in early education and childcare’ and informing the schools forum of the local authority’s response.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The report notifies Schools Forum of the requirement to update the Stockport Scheme for Financing Schools document in accordance with the Directed Revisions received from the Department for Education (DfE) which became effective 1 April 2013.

Officer contact Peter Hughes, Tel: 474 3947, 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) giving notice of the requirement to update the Stockport Scheme for Financing Schools document in accordance with the Directed Revisions received from the Department for Education (DfE) which became effective on 1 April 2013.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The report provides the final detailed analysis of the total school balances position recorded as at 31 March 2013.

Officer contact Peter Hughes, Tel: 474 3947, 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 final detailed analysis of the total school balances position recorded as at 31 March 2013.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Concerns were raised with regards to the level of surplus balance held across the Borough and in certain schools.

·         It was confirmed that other local authorities had concerns with the level of surplus balances at schools.

·         The Department for Education will challenge the Local Authority (LA) for explanation and outline the assigned purpose such balance is held for, at any school with a surplus balance at 15% or more and furthermore be seeking information as to any interventions the LA is planning.

·         It was suggested that the options for dealing with surplus balances were reviewed again by the Forum.

·         Due to the method of settlement, budgets could only be planned year to year which was more difficult than the previous method of budgets planned for three years and could account for some surplus balances.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services be requested to produce a report regarding the options for recovery of surplus balances for the consideration of the Forum.

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

The report details the final 2012/13 out-turn position of the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG).

Officer contact Peter Hughes, Tel: 474 3947, 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) giving the final 2012-2013 out-turn position of the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG).

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         There was an expected shortfall in post-16 funding in the next financial year which would now be part of the DSG.

·         In previous years, any surplus identified for allocating to schools was distributed to schools on a lump sum and per pupil basis. Other options for distribution included: on a per pupil basis, distribution targeted at certain sectors or allocated to repairs from the Capital Projects Programme.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) The DSG surplus be allocated as outlined in section 4.7 of the report; and

(3) That the £0.452m surplus balance of the DSG to be distributed to schools be allocated on the basis of a £1,000 lump sum per school/academy and the remaining balance distributed on a per pupil basis using January 2012 pupil numbers.

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

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

Officer contact Peter Hughes, Tel: 474 3947, 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 an update on the level of school reserves held in relation to insurance schemes that are administered by the Local Authority.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the recommendations in the report be approved.

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

The report outlines the 2013 education capital settlement and allocations to Stockport.

Officer contact Simon Finch Tel: 474 4019, email: simon.finch@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) outlining the 2013 education capital settlement and allocations to Stockport.

It was discussed that new housing in the Brinnington would place a high demand on school places in the surrounding area.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services be requested to produce a report showing the predicted impact the new housing developments in Brinnington and Woodford will have on demand for school places.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director (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 and information of the schools the Local Authority Schools Finance team supported through the process via a service level agreement.

Officer contact Peter Hughes, Tel: 474 3947, 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 the Forum on the requirement for schools to complete the self-assessment process against the Schools Financial Value Standard (SFVS). The report also included information of the schools the Local Authority Schools Finance Team supported through the process via a Service Level Agreement (SLA) and provided details of good practice identified across the sectors.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Schools which had not completed the self-assessment would be encouraged to do so.

·         The assessments were to be submitted after they were approved by the Chair of Governors.

·         The LA to write to all non-compliant schools informing them that they would be reported to the DfE as non-compliant as at 31^st March 2013.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The report provides information relating to in-year pupil population mobility across the school sectors.

Officer contact Peter Hughes, Tel: 474 3947, 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 information relating to in-year pupil population mobility across the school sectors.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Certain schools in the borough had a larger amount of pupil movement than the average noted in the report due to their proximity to facilities such as refuges. However, the number that joined the school was similar to the number that left so that the overall net movement was small.

·         Pupil mobility could be used as a factor for allocation of the Dedicated Schools Grant.

·         Some schools had a high pupil mobility percentage due to amalgamation and this would not be an on-going trend. 

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The report provides details of the latest information released of all local authorities on 2013/14 schools formula funding and updates on any national developments / announcements relating to 2014/15 and the developments / plans for a local review of the schools funding formula ahead of 2014/15.

Officer contact Peter Hughes, Tel: 474 3947, 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 details of the latest information released to all local authorities on 2013/14 schools formula funding and on national developments/announcements relating to 2014/15. The Forum was invited to discuss the development/plans for a local review of the schools funding formula ahead of 2014/15.

The Forum was provided with an update with regard to the Department for Education’s recent statements on future formulas as presented at the recent National Fair Funding Conference in Bristol. The Department for Education had outlined the following key changes for 2014/15:

·         Local Funding formula must distribute a minimum of 80% via pupil-led factors;

·         The level of capping applied to the lump sum would be reduced to £175,000 per school;

·         A different lump sum value would be allowed for different  phases;

·         A new sparsity funding factor would be introduced from April 2014;

·         The Notional SEN contribution from schools would be set at a mandatory level of £6,000 per High Needs pupils; and

·         The representative for 14-19 year olds member of the Forum would be replaced with a representative for post-16 year olds. It was noted that these recommendations were subject to the approval of the national government.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Concerns were raised that some Head Teachers had not realised how their budgets would be affected by the payment of a lump sum.

·         The consultation process carried out last year was well received and it was hoped that this could be replicated this year.

·         Members were asked to consider what changes to the funding formula their sectors would like to see modelled for future consideration.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) Secondary representatives confirmed they would like to take part in the Local Funding Formula sub-group meetings and the LA would arrange for invites to be sent to the next meeting scheduled for 28^th June 2013.

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

The report provides an update on the schedule of meetings for the 2012/13 and 2013/14 academic year.

Officer contact Peter Hughes, Tel: 474 3947, 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 updated schedule of meetings for the 2012/2013 academic year.

It was discussed that the optional question and answer sessions which were held prior to the commencement of the meetings were not well attended and officers would review this arrangement after the next meeting.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

No other business was discussed.

To agree the date of the next meeting scheduled for Tuesday 25 June 2013.

RESOLVED – That the next meeting be held on Tuesday 25 June 2013 at the ICT Centre, Kingsway School, Broadway Campus with an optional question and answer session on reports to be held prior to the commencement of the meeting at 3.45pm.