Issue - meetings

To consider a joint report of the Executive Councillor (Education) and the Leader of the Council (Policy, Finance & Devolution)

The report provides the Executive with an update on the key announcements made by the Department for Education (DfE) on the education funding settlement for 2017/18, and also seek approval of the local formula to be used to determine the individual 2017/18 budgets for early years providers and schools in Stockport.

The Executive is invited to

·         note the details of the Education Funding Settlement for 2017/18;

·         approve the amended early year’s local formula for 2017/18 as outlined in section 4.2 and summarised in the table in 7.2; and,

·         approve the continuation of the schools’ local funding formula at 2016/17 funding factor levels as outlined at section 4.9 and summarised in the table at section 7.2 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, 0161 474 3947, peter.hughes@stockport.gov.uk

The Executive Councillor (Education) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive to consider key announcements made by the Department for Education on the education funding settlement for 2017/18, and seeking approval, in light of the consideration of the matter by the Schools Forum, of the local formula to be used to determine the individual 2017/18 budgets for early years providers and schools in Stockport.

The Executive Councillor highlighted the proposals by the Government for a national funding formula, but emphasised that the proposals as they were being consulted on would not lead to the fairness in funding for schools that the Council would wish.

He further highlighted the challenges for preschool and nursery providers arising from the new funding arrangements and referred to the representations they had made. The Executive Councillor paid tribute to the work done by providers and the contribution they make. However, given the funding challenges it was no longer sustainable to continue to subsidise places in this sector, and the Schools Forum had recommended that the funding rates be brought in line with government rates. The retention of a percentage of the funding for central services would provide valuable resources for providers. The Executive Councillor stated that although far from ideal, this was the most appropriate course of action.

RESOLVED – (1) That the details of the Education Funding Settlement for 2017/18 be noted;

(2) That the amended early year’s local formula for 2017/18 as outlined in section 4.2 and summarised in the table in 7.2 of the report be approved; and,

(3) That the continuation of the schools’ local funding formula at 2016/17 funding factor levels as outlined at section 4.9 and summarised in the table at section 7.2 of the report be approved, to form the basis of the calculation of school budgets and be notified to the Department for Education in accordance with statutory requirements.

To consider a joint report of the Corporate Director for People and the Borough Treasurer.

The report provides an opportunity for the Scrutiny Committee to comment on the key announcements made by the Department for Education (DfE) on the education funding settlement for 2017/18 prior to its consideration by the Executive.

The Scrutiny Committee are invited to consider and comment on the report.

Officer Contact: Peter Hughes on Tel: 474 3947 or email: peter.hughes@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for People submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on key announcements made by the Department for Education (DfE) on the education funding settlement for 2017/2018 and outlining issues in respect to the local formula which will be used to determine the individual 2017/2018 budgets for early years providers and schools in Stockport.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and the proposals contained within in be endorsed.