Agenda and minutes

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

To report any apologies for absence or substitutions.

Apologies for absence were received from Lucy Cooney.

To record any observers present.

Emma Morton was in attendance as an observer.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 30 March 2023.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 30 March 2023 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To discuss any matters arising.

·         Further to the concerns raised at the last meeting in relation to Robertsons and the recent increase in energy costs, a representative of the Local Authority Estates Management Team attended the meeting and provided some detail in relation to this bill and how the figures had been arrived at.

·         In response to a member question relating to the possibility of schools negotiating with energy companies directly, the Forum was advised that energy bills would be significantly more expensive if schools were to do that due to the benefit which came from the Council’s procurement power.

·         The Forum was reminded that schools only pay for the energy that they use.

·         The Chair of the Forum asked whether the figures in relation to the October bill could be checked again with the energy companies in order to ensure that schools were not paying excessively. 

·         Further to a query raised at the previous meeting, the Forum was advised that money spent on elective home education was used to fund checks to ensure that suitable elective home education was taking place.

·         Clarification was provided in relation to the previous request regarding  de-delegation funding streams.  A summary was to be sent out to all members in the following week.

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 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 asked to note the report, provide support to the LA recommendations at points 2.6 and 3.3 and offer any further comments.

Officer contact: Sarah Cook, Telephone; 0161 474 4030 Email: sarah.cook@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 level of school reserves held in relation to insurance schemes that are administered by the Local Authority.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and that Schools’ Forum agreed to the recommendations at points 2.6 and 3.3 of the report.

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

The report provides Schools’ Forum members with the final detailed analysis of the total school balances position recorded as at 31 March 2023.

The report further provides details of the schools recording an excessive school surplus balance as at 31 March 2023 (i.e. above the 12% threshold) and confirms application of the appropriate control mechanism process as defined in the Scheme for Financing Schools Document.

Schools’ Forum members are asked to note the report, present any questions and offer any further comments.

Officer contact: Peter Hughes, Telephone; 0161 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 the final detailed analysis of the total school balances position recorded as at 31 March 2023.

The report further provided details of the schools recording an excessive school surplus balance as at 31 March 2023 (i.e. above the 12% threshold) and confirms application of the appropriate control mechanism process as defined in the Scheme for Financing Schools Document.

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         If the money was clawed back, where would it go?  The Forum was advised that it would go into a central pot and Schools Forum would be asked how they think it should be spent.

·         In response to a Member question relating to how excess monies had been spent in the past, the Forum was advised that clawback had been relatively minimal. Previously, excess monies had gone into the Local Authority Education capital budget.

·         The Forum was assured that support would be put in place for those schools that were reporting that they are in deficit.

·         A short discussion took place as to whether it would be helpful to find out whether money had not been spent due to schools not being able to appoint staff.

·         In relation to Item 3.1 in the report which read “Excessive Surplus Balance = 12%, a member of the Forum asked how the figure of 12% is set and by whom?

·         Members of the Forum queried whether there would be an agreed timeline for a claw back appeal to the Director of Children’s Services and subsequent decision.

·         Members queried whether it was worth looking at whether it was the same schools who year on year have huge surplus monies.

·         Members also felt that it may be useful to see some comparisons with year end balances of the academy schools especially as there may be some future conversions.

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 detail of the final 2022/23 dedicated schools grant (DSG) final reported outturn position.

Schools’ Forum members are asked to note the report, present any questions and offer any further comments.

Officer contact: Peter Hughes, Telephone; 0161 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 final 2022/23 dedicated schools grant (DSG) final reported outturn position.

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         The Forum was advised that there had been a 37% rise in EHCP assessment requests.

·         The point was made that there is a barrier to securing success for pupils with EHCP plans and that it was important to discover what the barrier was and to overcome it.

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 proposed update to the Scheme for Financing Schools document for approval.

Schools’ Forum members are asked to note the report and approve the proposed amendment as detailed in Appendix 2.

Officer contact: Peter Hughes, Telephone; 0161 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 proposed update to the Scheme for Financing Schools document for approval.

RESOLVED- that the report be noted and that the proposed amendment as detailed in Appendix 2 be approved.

To consider a verbal presentation of the Strategic Lead (SEND).

The presentation provides Schools’ Forum members with an overview of the current position in terms of SEND, a sufficiency update and an overview of the Delivering Better Value (DbV) program.

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

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

The Strategic Lead (SEND) gave a presentation which provided Schools’ Forum members with an overview of the current position in terms of SEND, a sufficiency update and an overview of the Delivering Better Value (DbV) program.

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         In response to a Member question relating to how the information would be shared with Headteachers, the Forum was advised that this would be done via the directorate.  Officers were happy to have a discussion about the best way to do this.

·         It was emphasised that parents also need to have a wider understanding.

RESOLVED – That the verbal presentation 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 and proposed dates for the new 2023/24 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 the updated 2022/2023 academic years dates at section 2.2;

d) Acknowledge/Accept the proposed dates for the 2023/24 academic year;

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

f) Request any items for training/development sessions

Officer contact: Peter Hughes, Tel 0161 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 and proposed dates for the new 2023/24 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 provided Schools’ Forum members with the opportunity to request any items for training/development sessions.

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         In this academic year there was only one further meeting scheduled for 13 July.  The Forum was advised that this meeting will only go ahead if there are business matters to discuss and that further information was awaited from the DfE.  Members would be updated in due course.

·         It was also agreed to amend the proposed 2023/24 academic year meeting cycle as follows:

Autumn Term Meeting 1 – moved to Thursday 12 October 2023

Spring Term Meeting 2 – moved to Tuesday 19 march 2024

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To discuss any other business.

There was no other business.