Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Children, Families & Education.

The report provides an update on the key announcements made by the Department for Education (DfE) on the education funding settlement for 2023/24.

The Cabinet is recommended to:-

(1) Note the details of the Education Funding Settlement for 2023/24.

(2) Approve the construction of the early year’s budget as per section 3.1 to 3.2 and the updated 2023/24 local funding formula for schools as outlined in sections 3.3. to 3.5 and detailed in the table(s) in section 6.2 which will form the basis of the calculation of school budgets and be notified to the DfE in accordance with statutory requirements.

Officer contact: Peter Hughes on 0161 474 3947 or by email: peter.hughes@stockport.gov.uk

The Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Children, Families & Education (Councillor Wendy Meikle) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on the key announcements made by the Department for Education (DfE) on the education funding settlement for 2023/24.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·       The Council continued to lobby for a better deal for funding for schools in Stockport.

·       Stockport has historically received a lower funding settlement then comparator authorities.

·       It was noted that notwithstanding the funding position, schools and young people in Stockport continued to achieve well.

RESOLVED - (1) That the details of the Education Funding Settlement for 2023/24 be noted.

(2) That approval be given to the construction of the early year’s budget as per section 3.1 to 3.2 and the updated 2023/24 local funding formula for schools as outlined in sections 3.3. to 3.5 and detailed in the table(s) in section 6.2 which will form the basis of the calculation of school budgets and be notified to the DfE in accordance with statutory requirements.

To consider a report of the Director of Children’s Services.

The report provides an update on the key announcements made by the Department for Education (DfE) on the education funding settlement for 2023/24.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to comment on and note the report.

Officer contact: Peter Hughes on 0161 474 3947 or by email: peter.hughes@stockport.gov.uk

The Director of Education submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on the key announcements made by the Department for Education (DfE) on the education funding settlement for 2023/24.

The Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Children, Families & Education (Councillor Wendy Meikle) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         In response to a question regarding the sufficiency of the central reserve amount identified in the report, it was stated this was enough to provide the services that had been funded this year, but was insufficient for the ambition of the council to undertake the range of activities it would hope.

·         Concern was expressed that a number of schools were experiencing extreme budgetary pressures with many unknown factors contributing to a high degree of uncertainty.

·         Schools in Stockport were performing well, notwithstanding that funding allocations for education in Stockport have been significantly less than other local authorities for many years.

·         The quality of schools and their leaders in Stockport was commendable.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.