Agenda and minutes

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

To report any apologies for absence or substitutions.

Apologies for absence were received from Terry Conlon, Jo Lowe, Mike Harding, Emma Sorsby.

To record any observers present.

No observers were present.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 13 October 2022.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 13 October 2022 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 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 responses received to the local Schools and Early Years Financial Consultation 2022.

Schools’ Forum is requested to note the report and offer any further comments.

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 responses received to the local Schools and Early Years Financial Consultation 2022.

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         Members of the Forum commented that some of the information within the report was unclear and therefore hard to understand.  In response, the Forum was advised that a series of roadshows had been held on this matter, but they had not been very well attended.

·         Members of the Forum requested that dates for consultation roadshows be pencilled in as the last roadshow was relatively last minute.

·         Due to the importance of the topic, Members were encouraged to attend the roadshow and to share this with wider colleagues.

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 an update on the construction of the 2023/24 total schools’ budget.

The report also provides an update on the dedicated schools grant (DSG) deficit position.

The report also seeks views on budget proposals from the Local Authority and where appropriate seek members approval.

Schools’ Forum members are requested to:

a)    Note the report;

b)   Give views on the budget plans and principles outlined in section 4 for early years block;

c)    Approve the indicative budget allocations for the central school services block as per section 5, including block transfer at c. £0.179m

d)   Give views on the schools’ block local funding formula model and minimum funding guarantee (MFG) proposals as per section 6.3 – 6.5;

e)    Determine the de-delegation decisions for 2023/24 as per section 6.6;

f)     Approve the indicative central reserve budget for 2023/24 at £1.2m as per section 6.7;

g)   Give views on the draft local specialist SEN places to be commissioned in 2023/24 as per section 7.3; and

h)   Discuss and approve the full 0.5% schools’ block transfer be approved for 2023/24 as per section 7.5

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 an update on the construction of the 2023/24 total schools’ budget.

The report also provided an update on the dedicated schools grant (DSG) deficit position.

The report further sought views on budget proposals from the Local Authority and where appropriate seek members approval.

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         The Forum was advised that section 4.3 of the report detailed what the Local Authority key principles were regarding budget setting for the early years as there were no figures to share at the moment as a response was awaited from the DfE.  More information on a number of items was expected later this term.

·         Members commented that the demand for Education, Health and Care plans was rising significantly and that a lot of money was being spent on sending children out of the area to get their needs met.  In addition, the impact on school budgets was felt to be unsustainable.  It was vital therefore that differing practice models were investigated and it was hoped that more information on this would be available in the new year.

·         A short discussion took place in relation to the ethnic diversity and behaviour support services and the need to support them.

RESOLVED – (i) That the report be noted.

(ii) That the indicative budget allocations for the central school services block as per section 5, including block transfer at c. £0.179m be approved.

(iii) That the de-delegation decisions for 2023/24 (i.e. will remain as per 2022/23 for both sectors) as per section 6.6 be approved.

(iv) That the indicative central reserve budget for 2023/24 at £1.2m as per section 6.7 be approved.

(v) That the draft local specialist SEN places to be commissioned in 2023/24 as per section 7.3 be noted.

(vi) That the full 0.5% schools’ block transfer for 2023/24 as per section 7.5 be agreed.

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

The report provides Schools’ Forum members with an update on the excessive surplus balance control mechanism applied for 2021/22.

Schools’ Forum is requested to note the report and offer any further comments.

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

The Borough Treasurer and Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report which provided Schools’ Forum members with an update on the excessive surplus balance control mechanism applied for 2021/22.

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         Members of the Forum commented that some of the monies that sit in some school budgets is due to being unable to fill vacant positions in their staffing models. It was felt that there was an ever-dwindling pool of people with the skills and willingness to accept posts.

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:

a) note the report;

b) request any reports for future meetings;

c) note/accept the 2022/2023 academic years dates provided at section 2.2;

d) Discuss and propose any amendments to the forward planner and

e) 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.

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         The issue of rising energy costs was raised.  A lot of schools felt very vulnerable and were finding it hard to get up to date information on this matter.

·         Schools Forum was advised that Mike Harding was resigning from the Forum and thanks were expressed for his valuable contribution and a replacement would be arranged/sought via PHC.