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 Tony Martin and Ian Irwin.

To record any observers present.

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

Emma Johnstone                -           Schools Finance Team

Nick Bennett                         -           School Business Manager

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 7 December 2017.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 7 December 2017 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To discuss any matters arising.

A discussion took place in relation to the ‘disappointment’ expressed from the secondary sector representatives that the new Laurus Trust Free Schools now confirmed for opening in September 2018 were not included in the original formula modelling figures included in the Schools’ Financial Consultation last term.  The impact of this was that the headroom monies available within the schools’ block of funding for distribution to schools had now been reduced.

Secondary sector representatives indicated that the former vote on the 0.5% transfer from the schools’ block to the high needs block may have been different if all information had been known.  In response, members of the Forum were advised that the Local Authority would have taken this matter to the Secretary of State if Schools’ Forum approval had not been granted.

In relation to school balances, secondary sector representatives reinforced the discussion at the previous meeting in relation to the rate at which school balances have reduced in recent years due to the necessity to support their current budgets.

The implementation of the National Funding Formula models for determining the DSG block allocations to Local Authorities had still not addressed the financial difficulties facing schools (i.e real term cost pressures exceeding funding) or the inequalities of authorities/schools with similar pupil/demographic characteristics receiving different levels of funding.  In response, Members of the Forum were advised that lobbying of the government on these key issues would be ongoing and that an F40 conference was being held in March at which Stockport would be represented and feedback would be provided in due course.

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 of the Borough Treasurer.

The report provides Schools’ Forum members with details of the 2018/19 Schools Funding Settlement released on 20 December 2017 by the Department for Education (DfE).

Schools Forum Members are asked to note the report.

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 2018/19 Schools Funding Settlement released on 20 December 2017 by the Department for Education (DfE).

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         Headteacher representatives sought information as to how the new School Improvement and Brokering grant would be deployed.  In response, Members were advised that in the main, funding would be used to support interventions and strategies for schools identified in an Ofsted category or a Local Authority school which was causing concern, alongside school to school support programmes.  A further update and spend plan details would be provided to Schools Forum members in due course.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Borough Treasurer.

The report provides Schools’ Forum members with details of the Final 2018/19 Local Authority (LA) annual pro-forma toolkit (APT) return to be submitted to the Department for Education (DfE).

Schools Forum Members are asked to:

a)     Note the report

b)   Offer any further comments

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 Final 2018/19 Local Authority annual pro-forma toolkit (APT) return to be submitted to the Department for Education.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Borough Treasurer.

The report provides Schools’ Forum members with an update on the 2018/19 dedicated schools grant (DSG) revenue funding allocated by the Department for Education (DfE).

The report also provides Schools’ Forum members an update on the construction of the total 2018/19 Schools’ Budget and finalise any outstanding matters as appropriate.

Schools Forum Members are asked to

a)    Note the report

b)   Offer any further comments

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 Schools’ Forum members with an update on the 2018/19 dedicated schools grant (DSG) revenue funding allocated by the Department for Education (DFE).

The report also provided Schools’ Forum members with an update on the construction of the total 2018/19 Schools’ Budget.

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         A short discussion took place in relation to the request for a DSG financial contribution to the Safeguarding Board as outlined in the report and in relation to the level of Local Authority maintained specialist place provision (Appendix 1 & 2) and the increasing position of the general demand for SEN provision increasing at a higher rate than the local pupil population.

RESOLVED – (i) That the report be noted

(ii) Schools’ Forum members approved the updated resource allocations for the CSSB as detailed in the table at section 6.3 of the report.

To consider a report of the Borough Treasuere.

The report provides an opportunity to discuss with Schools’ Forum members options/plans to undertake the DSG review post April 2018 ahead of the budget setting process/requirements for the 2019/20 year.

Schools Forum members are asked to:

a)    Note the above report,

b)   Offer any comments / views; and

c)    Determine who shall represent each sector/group on the DSG Review Group

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 opportunity for a discussion with Schools Forum members regarding the options/plans to undertake the DSG review post in April 2018 ahead of the budget setting process/requirements for the 2019/20 year.

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         A discussion took place which focused on ensuring that all the relevant sectors were represented on the group.  This included primary and secondary school representatives.

·         Work/dialogue needed to begin as soon as the 2018/19 budget preparations had been completed.

·         The use of the conference room at Aquinas College was offered.

RESOLVED – (i) That the report be noted.

(ii) That a representative of the Borough Treasurer be requested to set up an initial meeting.

(iii) That Schools’ Forum representatives determine who would be most appropriate to represent all the different sectors.

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 with the opportunity to request any items for training/development sessions.

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         A number of representatives expressed an interest in training and induction opportunities.  It was agreed that a separate email would be sent out in order to organise this.

·         A representative of the Headteachers raised a query in relation to tracking/identifying previous reports presented to the Forum and/or forward planning items.

RESOLVED – (i) That the report be noted.

(ii) That a representative of the Borough Treasurer to speak with Schools’ Forum members who had expressed an interest in training and induction and to arrange this as appropriate.

(iii) That a representative of the Borough Treasurer be requested to provide a working paper illustrating reports presented to the Forum each year for information.

To discuss any other business.

No further business was discussed.