Agenda and minutes

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

To report any apologies for absence or substitutions.

Apologies for absence were received from Ian Irwin, Damian Cunningham, Tony Martin, Paul Carter and Jo Lowe.

To record any observers present.

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

Emma Morton                       -           Schools Finance Team

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 15 March 2018.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 15 March 2018 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To discuss any matters arising.

There were no matters arising.

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 final 2016/17 Total Schools Budget reported outturn position.

Schools Forum members are asked to note the report and offer any 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 2016/17 Total Schools Budget reported outturn position.

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         The final year-end position on the DSG budget was emphasised, and in particular the requirement to deploy in total £0.679m of reserves to support the total 2017/18 expenditure position.

·         This clearly evidenced the budget sustainability position the Local Authority is facing and which the DSG Review Group was re-established to address. 

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 level of school reserves held in relation to insurance schemes that are administered by the Local Authority.

Schools Forum members are requested to:

     I.        Note the above report

    II.        Support the Local Authority proposals as per section 3.5 of the report

  III.        Offer any further comments

Officer contact: Peter Hughes on 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 level of school reserves held in relation to insurance schemes that are administered by the Local Authority.

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         Members of the Forum asked if there was any data or information available which may indicate trends particularly in relation to sickness absence.  This was felt to be a huge issue for schools.

·         In response, Members were advised that the Long Term Sickness overspend in 2017/18 was a significant spike not previously seen in other years.  The Teachers Panel and Human Resources have been working together to analyse reasons behind sickness levels.  Members of the Forum were assured that this information will be captured and shared with the insurance team to inform the 2018/19 activity review.

RESOLVED -

      i.        That the report be noted.

    ii.        That the Balance of Risks adjusted reserve fund level at £0.317m is retained as it is and no redistribution to be applied at the present time.

   iii.        That the Long Term Sickness scheme activity is reviewed in the first half of the 2018/19 year and assessment is made in relation to whether the 2017/18 Long Term Sickness levels was an extreme ‘one off’ or is likely to re-occur in 2018/19 and if so the impact upon scheme premium levels to schools for 2019/20.

To consider a report of the Borough Treasurer.

The report provides Schools Forum members with the final detailed analysis of the total school balances position recorded as at 31 March 2018.

The report also provides detail of the application of the excessive school surplus balance mechanism process applied to schools reporting a surplus balance above the 12% threshold level as per the Scheme for Financing Schools document.

Schools Forum members are requested 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 the final detailed analysis of the total school balances position as recorded at 31 March 2018.

The report also provided detail of the application of the excessive school surplus balance mechanism process applied to schools reporting a surplus balance above the 12% threshold level as per the Scheme for Financing Schools document.

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         A discussion took place regarding the level of school balances and how these could be reduced.

·         What was the impact of balances held by schools when central government are considering funding increases?

·         How can school budgets be sustained in the medium term?

·         Members raised concern at the overall secondary sector low level of surplus.

·         Members of the Forum commented on the differing movement in balances (£ & %) at individual school level.

RESOLVED –

      i.        That the report be noted.

    ii.        That a report on outcomes of the excessive balance control mechanism process was to be brought to a future meeting of the Schools Forum.

To consider a report of the Borough Treasurer.

The report provides Schools Forum members with an update on the requirement for schools to complete the self-assessment process against the Schools Financial Value Standard (SFVS)

The report also provides information of the schools that the Local Authority Schools Finance Team supported through the process via a service level agreement (SLA).

The report also provides details of good practice identified across the sectors.

Schools Forum members are asked to:

     I.        Note the report;

    II.        To share information with the wider school sector population and seek to explore further collaboration opportunities and/or implement identified “good practice”;

  III.        To identify and inform schools finance team of any alternative and/or further training/support required; and

  IV.        Offer any further comments and/or request any further actions to be undertaken

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 requirement for schools to complete the self-assessment process against the Schools Financial Value Standard (SFVS).

The report also provided information regarding the schools that the Local Authority Schools Finance Team supported through the process via a service level agreement (SLA).  The report also provided details of good practice identified across the sectors.

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         Members of the Forum had a short discussion regarding the process, Local Authority support and school actions.

·         The Forum was advised that the SFVS is to be replaced from April 2019 but further information is awaited from the Department for Education.

RESOLVED –

     I.        That the report be noted.

    II.        Schools Forum to be updated on the replacement process from April 2019 in due course.

To consider a report of the Borough Treasurer.

The report provides Schools’ Forum members with an update on progress deriving from the recent sub-group work streams developed from the re-established DSG Review Group as agreed by Schools’ Forum in March 2018.

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 provided a verbal report which provided Schools’ Forum members with an update on progress deriving from the recent sub-group work streams developed from the re-established DSG Review Group as agreed by Schools Forum in March 2018.

The key items of the report were as follows:

·         The 2018/19 original DSG budget (High Needs) has been supported by £1.036m of non-recurrent funding (ie schools’ block transfer and DSG reserves).

·         Q1 budget monitoring forecasts a potential further £0.5m funding is required.

·         The current unallocated DSG reserve level is £0.179m.

·         The Special Schools met last week and the resourced provision and PRU’s meet in the next week.

·         Other work streams (ie Post 16, mainstream SEN and HN services) are to be developed further in the autumn term.

·         A Department for Education announcement on the 2019/20 budget is expected imminently.

·         A roll forward of an updated 2018/19 budget would require a minimum £1.536m support to the HNB.

·         The Local Authority will outline options, plans and timelines in the autumn term update reports.

·         2019/20 is likely to be a formal ‘deficit’ budget year (ie insufficient level of reserves available to bridge the funding gap).

RESOLVED –

·         That the report be noted.

·         Schools Forum to be provided with further updates in due course (ie after the 2019/20 Department for Education announcement and further meetings of the review group work strands).  The full DSG Review Group to reconvene mid-autumn term.

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

Schools Forum members are asked to:

(a)  Note the above 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 2018/19 academic year.

The report also provided Schools’ Forum members with details of the proposed dates for the calendar of meetings in the 2018/19 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 also provided Schools’ Forum members with the opportunity to request any items for training/development sessions.

RESOLVED –

     I.        That the report be noted.

    II.        That the first meeting date for spring term 2019 to be amended to Tuesday 22 January 2019 to avoid a clash with the primary Head Teachers meeting.

To consider a report of the Borough Treasurer.

The report provides Schools Forum members with an update in relation to the Chairperson position and other membership issues and to officially seek Schools’ Forum member views and/or approval to proceed with the recommendation relating to the Chairperson position:

Schools Forum members are asked to :

             I.        Note the above report;

            II.        Offer any nominations for the Chairperson role or accept and approve Paul’s offer to continue for one more term;

          III.        Note the membership update information at section 4; and

          IV.        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 an update in relation to the Chairperson position and other membership issues and which officially sought Schools’ Forum member views and/or approval to proceed with the recommendation relating to the Chairperson position.

Resolved –

     I.        That the report be noted.

    II.        That the continuation of the current Chairperson be approved for one more term commencing in September 2018.

  III.        Contact to be made with respective representative groups where vacancies currently exist and/or are forthcoming in the next Academic year.

  IV.        That the membership list be updated to reflect that Councillor Allan has replaced Councillor Weldon.

   V.        That the Schools Forum be presented with the annual Terms of Reference report including updated membership information at the next meeting.

To discuss any other business.

No further business was discussed.

RESOLVED – That the next meeting of the Schools Forum will take place on Tuesday 22 January 2019.