Agenda and minutes

The Chair, Emma Hill, welcomed members to the meeting of the Schools’ Forum.

To report any apologies for absence or substitutions.

Apologies for absence were received from Ian Irwin, Mike Harding, Anne Rogowski, Councillor Rory Leonard, Stephen Campbell, Jo Lowe, Keith Turmeau, Darren Ripley, Frances Conway, Danny Pearson, Emma Sorsby, Lucy Crompton, Richard Knott, Linda Hanson

To record any observers present.

No observers were present.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 6 July 2022.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 6 July 2022 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

RESOLVED – That Anne Trafford be added on to the list of attendees for the meeting.

To discuss any matters arising.

There were no matters arising.

To consider a report of the Borough Treasurer and Deputy Chief Executive.

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 for consideration.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Borough Treasurer and Deputy Chief Executive.

The report provides Schools’ Forum members with details of the Terms of Reference (ToR) document and any proposed amendment(s); and also provides Schools’ Forum members with a membership update.

Schools’ Forum members are requested to:

             I.        Note the report;

            II.        Approve the LA proposed amendment to the Schools’ Forum ToR document;

          III.        Acknowledge and discuss the latest position on membership/vacancies as per section 3.5 / Appendix 1; and

          IV.        Note the position in relation to attendance of members.

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

A representative of the Borough Treasurer and Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which provided Schools’ Forum members with details of the Terms of Reference (ToR) document and any proposed amendment(s); and also provided Schools’ Forum members with a membership update.

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         Members of Schools’ Forum noted that Emma Hill was to continue as Chair of the Forum and that Tony Martin had stood down.

RESOLVED – (i) That the report be noted.

(ii) That the proposed amendment to the Schools’ Forum ToR document be approved.

(iii) That the latest position on membership/vacancies as per section 3.5/Appendix 1 be noted

(iv) That the position in relation to attendance of members be noted.

To consider a report of the Borough Treasurer and Deputy Chief Executive.

The report provides Schools’ Forum members with details of the findings from the 16 schools audited in the 2021/22 financial year.

Schools’ Forum members are requested to:

             I.        Note the report;

            II.        Offer any comments; and

          III.        Share with their wider school/sector colleagues

Officer contact: John Eaves Email: john.eaves@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Borough Treasurer and Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which provided Schools’ Forum members with details of the findings from the 16 schools audited in the 2021/22 financial year.

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         In response to a question, Schools Forum was advised that although there was no formal training available, the Audit Team were always happy to support staff and business managers with any audit related issues.

·         Schools’ Forum was advised that the Audit report was strongly connected to governance and the more widely that information was shared, the better.

·         The need for forward planning and addressing matters such as staffing costs and pressures as urgent, was emphasised.

·         Members of the Forum asked that contact details for Local Authority staff be updated.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Borough Treasurer and Deputy Chief Executive.

The report provides Schools’ Forum members with details of the 2023/24 Schools Funding announcement.

Schools’ Forum is requested to note the report.

Officer contact: Peter Hughes,  Tel 474 3947 Email: peter.hughes@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Borough Treasurer and Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which were circulated) which provided Schools’ Forum members with details of the 2023/24 Schools Funding announcement.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Borough Treasurer and Deputy Chief Executive.

The report provides Schools’ Forum members with details of the 2023/24 budget setting requirements, plans and indicative timeline.

The report enables Schools’ Forum to discuss the local options and overall construction of the 2023/24 total Schools Budget financed by deployment of the dedicated schools grant (DSG).

The report also enables Schools’ Forum to discuss 2023/24 budget matters requiring consultation and the management of the DSG deficit position.

Schools’ Forum members are requested to:

1. Note the report;
2. Offer any comments;
3. Give views on the planned consultation proposals; and

  IV.        Discuss the de-delegation options (section 4.6) with wider primary and secondary maintained school colleagues and report back with decision making at 8 December 2022 meeting

Officer contact: Peter Hughes,  Tel 474 3947 Email: peter.hughes@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Borough Treasurer and Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which provided Schools’ Forum members with details of the 2023/24 budget setting requirements, plans and indicative timeline.

The report enabled Schools’ Forum to discuss the local options and overall construction of the 2023/24 total Schools Budget financed by deployment of the dedicated schools grant (DSG).

The report also enabled Schools’ Forum to discuss 2023/24 budget matters requiring consultation and the management of the DSG deficit position.

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         A short discussion took place relating to the de-delegation options; however this was only for Local Authority maintained schools.  These would need to be considered very carefully.

·         Members of the Forum acknowledged that funding had gone up but emphasised that it had not risen by enough and that there were very low levels of protection.

·         The position in relation to Early Years was felt to be very acute.

·         In response to a question in relation to possible pressures caused by refugees, Schools Forum was advised that there was some additional funding from central government available for this, language issues for example could cause additional pressures.  Unfortunately, the pressures were not evenly spread.

RESOLVED (i) That the report be noted.

(ii) That the de-delegation options would be discussed with wider primary and secondary maintained school colleagues.  These would be reported back with decision making to take place at the meeting of Schools’ Forum on 8 December 2022.

To consider a report of the Borough Treasurer and Deputy Chief Executive.

Officer contact: Peter Hughes,  Tel 474 3947 Email: peter.hughes@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Borough Treasurer and Deputy Chief Executive gave a verbal presentation on school’s budget pressures.

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         School Forum members stated that the biggest issue remained staffing costs and requested some training in managing this area.

·         Schools Forum was advised that they shouldn’t have to do anything in terms of getting help with energy costs, this should happen automatically.

·         The difficulties of recruiting and maintaining staff was discussed.

·         The issues relating to SEND children remain ongoing.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Director of Children’s Services.

The report updates Schools’ Forum members on the implementation of the Dedicated Schools Grant, (DSG) high needs block review and the SEND re-inspection.

Schools’ Forum members are asked to note and comment on the update.

Officer contact Bev Milway, 0161 218 1785 or email: bev.milway@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Director of Children’s Services updated Schools’ Forum members on the implementation of the Dedicated Schools Grant, (DSG) high needs block review and the SEND re-inspection.

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         A draft letter had been received in relation to the SEND re-inspection.  This recognised that a lot of hard work had been undertaken and that the self-evaluation had been accurate and honest.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Borough Treasurer and Deputy Chief Executive.

The report provides Schools’ Forum members with details of the calendar dates of meetings agreed for the 2022/23 academic year.

The report also 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:

1. Note the report;
2. Request any reports for future meetings;

  III.     Note the updated 2022/23 academic year dates at section 2.2;

  IV.     Note the induction training date at section 2.3

5. Discuss and propose any amendments to the forward planner; and
6. Request any items for training/development sessions.

Officer contact: Peter Hughes,  Tel 474 3947 Email: peter.hughes@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Borough Treasurer and Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which provided  Schools’ Forum members with details of the calendar dates of meetings agreed for the 2022/23 academic year.

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

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To discuss any other business.

There was no other business to consider.