Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed members to the meeting of the Forum and introductions were made.

To report any apologies for absence or substitutions.

Apologies for absence were received from Eleanor Losse.

To record any observers present.

It was reported that the following were in attendance as observers:

Emma Johnstone                -           Schools Finance Team

Sara Cooper                         -           Schools Finance Team

Paula Thomas                      -           School Business Manager

Nick Bennett                         -           School Business Manager

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 28 September 2017.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 28 September 2017 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To discuss any matters arising.

A representative of the Borough Treasurer updated Members of the Forum on the current membership. 

·         Ms Jo Lowe was the newest Member, representing Academy Schools.

·         Ms Karen Southwick had resigned.

·         There were outstanding vacancies for a Primary and Secondary School Governor.

To consider a report of the Borough Treasurer.

The report provides Schools Forum members with an executive summary report of the business matters included on the main agenda.

Schools Forum is recommended to note the executive summary and offer any views, comments and feedback to be considered for future executive summary reports.

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

A representative of the Borough Treasurer submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which provided the Forum with an executive summary of the business matters on the agenda.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report from the Borough Treasurer.

The report provides Schools’ Forum members with an update on the Early Year’s consultation.

Schools Forum members are asked to:

a)    Note the report and

b)   Offer any views or comments in relation to the proposals outlined at Section 5.4 for the Services to People SMT to consider prior to continuing final proposals to be presented to the Cabinet for approval.

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

A representative of the Borough Treasurer submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which provided Schools’ Forum members with an update on the Early Year’s Consultation.

The following comments were made/issues raised

·         A number of Schools Forum members felt that on the whole, the decisions made were reasonable and that it was best to carry them out over a two year period.

·         Questions were raised as to whether the consultation comments that had been received would be sent to the Cabinet and/or Scrutiny.  In response, Members were advised that the comments will go to the next available Scrutiny meeting before a final decision was taken by Cabinet.

·         Some Members of the Forum expressed concern that the financial support for each child was being reduced and that this was causing real anxiety in the Early Years sector.

·         Members questioned the rationale for taking quite so much of the deprivation grant.

RESOLVED – (i) That the report be noted.

(ii) That Schools’ Forum members support the LA ‘minded to’ proposals presented.

To consider a report from the Borough Treasurer.

The report provides Schools’ Forum members with an update on the Schools’ Financial Consultation.

Schools Forum Members are asked to:

a)    Note the report and

b)   Offer any views or comments in relation to the proposals outlined at Section 6.3 for the Services to People SMT to consider prior to confirming final proposals to be presented to the Cabinet for approval.

c)    Determine if the secondary split site factor value issue is to be taken back to the consortia meeting for further discussion.

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

A representative of the Borough Treasurer submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which provided members with an update on the Schools’ Financial Consultation.

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         Some Members of the Forum raised the issue of headroom monies and felt that the addition of new Free Schools meant that there would not be any headroom.  In response, Members were advised that this was not necessarily the case.  Some updated modelling had been done and there was still headroom in both the primary and secondary sectors but the level of headroom will not be as much.  It was envisaged that the DfE would release updated data in the next couple of weeks and that this would be reported to the January meeting of the Schools Forum.

RESOLVED – (i) That the report be noted.

(ii) That Schools’ Forum members support the LA ‘minded to’ proposals presented.

(iii) The secondary split site factor value issue had been taken back to the consortia meeting for further discussion earlier today and the revised voting position was now 4 for and 5 against, with Marple Hall abstaining.

To consider a report of the Borough Treasurer.

The report provides Schools’ Forum members with an update on the 2016/17 School balances and the locally agreed excessive surplus balance control mechanism.

Schools Forum Members are asked to:

a)    Note the report and

b)   Give a view as to how the surplus monies held centrally should be re-deployed.

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

A representative of the Borough Treasurer submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which provided Schools Forum members with an update on the 2016/17 School balances and the locally agreed excessive surplus balance control mechanism.

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         Members felt that it was hard to argue that there was not enough money in the system when there are excessive balances.

·         Members asked whether the money could be used for children who arrive at school mid-year.

·         Members were advised that some balances had been high for a number of years and that it was important that those who were saving for a particular project, be protected.

·         It was felt that if balances were recorded in August they this would be a more accurate reflection of the situation.

·         Secondary school balances were a real concern and could be a big issue going forward.

RESOLVED (i) That the report be noted.

(ii) That the monies clawed back from schools be added to the DSG reserve to support the budget sustainability issues/cost pressure within the high needs block.

To consider a report of the Borough Treasurer.

The report provides Schools’ Forum members with an update on the construction of the 2018/19 Total Schools’ Budget financed predominantly via deployment of the dedicated schools grant (DSG).

Schools Forum members are asked to:

a)    Note the above report;

b)   Offer any further comments in relation to the early year’s block proposals on the local EYSFF model as per section 4.3 / table 4;

c)    Offer any further comments in relation to the schools’ block local funding formula proposals for each sector as per section 5.2;

d)   Determine the 2018/19 primary and secondary de-delegation decisions for each service area as per section 5.4 / table 7;

e)    Approve the CSSB draft budget allocations detailed at section 6.3 / table 9;

f)     Approve the proposed transfer of up to 0.5% from the 2018/19 schools’ block allocation to the high needs block as per section 7.5; and

g)   Offer any further comments in relation to the construction of the 2018/19 high needs block budget.

Officer contact: Peter Hughes on 0161 474 3846 or email: peter.hughes@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Borough Treasure submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which provided Schools Forum members with an update on the construction of the 2018/2019 Total Schools Budged financed predominantly via deployment of the dedicated schools grant (DSG).

RESOLVED (i) That the report be noted.

(ii) That the 2018/19 primary and secondary de-delegation decisions for each service area as per Section 5.4/table 7 in the report be approved, but with the caveat that the area of de-delegation is reviewed further and discussed with the respective Headteacher consortia groups next year.

(iii) That the CSSB draft budget allocations detailed at section 6.3/table 9 be approved.

(iv) That the proposed transfer of up to 0.5% from the 2018/19 schools’ block allocation to the high needs block as per section 7.5 in the report, be approved.

To consider a report of the Borough Treasurer.

The report provides Schools’ Forum members with details of the consultation document launched by the Department for Education (DfE) on “Implementation of the changes to the criteria for agreeing loan schemes”.

Schools Forum members are asked to:

a)    Note the report; and

b)   Offer any comments/views in relation to the DfE proposals outlined

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

A representative of the Borough Treasurer submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which provided Schools Forum members with details of the consultation document launched by the Department for Education (DfE) on ‘Implementation of the changes to the criteria for agreeing loan schemes’.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Borough Treasurer.

The report provides Schools’ Forum members with details of the scheduled meetings for the 2017/18 academic year.

The report provides Schools’ Forum members with details of the proposed dates for the calendar of meetings in the 2017/18 academic year.

The report provides Schools’ Forum members with the opportunity to request reports for future meetings and/or make amendments to the forward planner (Appendix 1).

The report provides Schools Forum members the opportunity to request any items for training/development sessions.

Schools Forum Members are asked to:

a)    Note the report:

b)   Request any reports for future meetings

c)    Discuss and propose any amendments to the forward planner; and

d)   Request any items for training/development sessions

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

A representative of the Borough Treasurer submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which provided Schools’ Forum members with details of the scheduled meetings for the 2017/18 academic year.

The report also provided Schools’ Forum members with details of the proposed dates for the calendar of meetings in the 2017/18 academic year.

The report provided Schools’ Forum members with the opportunity to request reports for future meetings and/or make amendments to the forward planner (Appendix 1)  .

The report provided Schools Forum members the opportunity to request any items for training/development sessions.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To discuss any other business.

No further business was discussed.