Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Borough Treasurer.

The report outlines the current arrangements for the funding of appeals in the Borough as well as background information for the co-ordination of those appeals.

Schools Forum is asked to determine whether to use the provision given to Local Authorities following consultation to change the way it funds these arrangements from April 2017.

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

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) outlining the current arrangements for the funding of admission appeals in the Borough as well as background information for the co-ordination of those appeals.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Academies currently had service level agreements with Democratic Services for the co-ordination of appeals which included an annual buy-in charge covering 5 appeals.

·         Whilst the co-ordination of appeals for voluntary aided schools was funded by the Stockport Council admissions authority, voluntary aided schools were charged for the presentation of their case at the appeals.

·         The impact of successful appeals on schools was stressed.

RESOLVED – (1) That the admissions authority retains a budget of £38,000 to meet all of the costs associated with the co-ordination of the independent admission appeals process for all maintained schools in the borough from 1 April 2017.

(2) That the Corporate Director for People be requested to submit a report to a future meeting providing further information regarding schools’ input into the admission appeal process.