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 Nicola Hodgson, Anna Fowler, Emma Sorsby and Jo O’Raw.

To record any observers present.

Emma Morton and Glenda Brocklehurst were in attendance as observers.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 12 October 2023.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 12 October 2023 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To discuss any matters arising.

·         A short discussion took place relating to the minutes of the meeting and the amount of information provided within them.  Specifically, answers provided to questions posed during the meeting. It was agreed that a ‘flavour’ of the answer would be provided.

·         In response to a question regarding late details on Teacher Pay Policy, the Forum was advised that Human Resources and Payroll could only provide this information once the order had been laid in Parliament and subject to the 21-day praying period which this year did not happen until November.

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.

A representative of the Borough Treasurer and Deputy Chief Executive 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 Consultations 2023.

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 responses received to the local Schools and Early Years Financial Consultations 2023.

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         Members considered that the sheer complexity of the information may account for the lack of responses to the consultation.  Although, it was agreed that there could be a number of different reasons for the lack of response.

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 2024/25 totals schools’ budget;

The report further provides an update on the dedicated schools grant (DSG) deficit position; and

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

Schools’ Forum members are asked to:

a)    Note the report;

b)   Give views on the budget plans and principles outlined in section 4 / Appendix 1 for early years block;

c)    Approve the indicative budget allocations for the central school services block as per section 5 / Appendix 2, including block transfer at c. £0.226m

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 2024/25 as per section 6.6;

f)     Approve the indicative central reserve budget for 2024/25 at £1.350m as per section 6.7;

g)   Approve the School Improvement “top-slice” as per section 6.8;

h)   Give views on the draft local specialist SEN places to be commissioned in 2024/25 as per section 7.3; and

i)     Discuss and approve the full 0.5% schools’ block transfer be approved for 2024/25 as per section 7.5.

Officer contact: Peter Hughes, Telephone; 0161 474 3947 Email: peter.hughes@stockport.gov.uk

A report of the Borough Treasurer and Deputy Chief Executive was submitted (copies of which had been circulated) which provided Schools’ Forum members with an update on the construction of the 2024/25 totals schools’ budget;

The report provided an update on the dedicated schools grant (DSG) deficit position; and sought views on budget proposals from the LA and where appropriate seek members approval.

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         Schools’ Forum members asked what the impact of the proposals would be on nursery schools.  In response, the Forum was advised that there would not be a significant impact to the detriment of other Early Years providers.  The numbers on roll remained imperative to sustainability.  Members of the Forum were reminded that the majority of Early Years settings were not schools.  There were a series of complicated sustainability questions in relation to Early Years.

·         Members of the Forum felt that there may be a lack of understanding in this area and requested that the report on Nursery Schools that was due to go to scrutiny committees also comes to Schools Forum.

·         In response to a question, the Forum was advised that no date had yet been set for when the direct national funding formula (NFF) model was to be introduced.  Some aspects of the NFF were still being worked on.

·         Members of the Forum felt that the NFF Model should be more equitable as Stockport’s position was compromised compared to some other Borough’s.  The Forum was advised that every school had to be funded at the specified level.  A reordering of the league table would take place once the additional information was made available, however it was likely that Stockport’s position would largely remain the same.

·         A short discussion took place relating to the differences between primary and secondary schools and how various services were funded.

·         In response to a question about new schools, the Forum was advised that all schools are funded in the same way but until new schools were full there could be diseconomies of scale whilst the school continued to grow, but that this had no impact on other schools in the Borough,

·         Members queried what would happen if the School Improvement monies were not transferred.  The Forum was advised that the Secretary of State would approve the proposals if the Schools’ Forum did not.

·         It was suggested that following the Schools’ Forum approval of the proposals, Officers could write to the Secretary of State for Education expressing the views of the Schools Forum in regard to this matter.

·         Members of the Forum queried what the impact would be on the high needs block of schools going into academy trusts.  Pressure for SEND places was growing nationally and that demand had to managed better.  Collective action was required to try and do thing differently.

RESOLVED (i) That the report be noted.

(ii) That the indicative budget allocations for the central school services block as per section 5 / Appendix 2, including block transfer at c. £0.226m be approved.

(iii) That the de-delegation decisions for 2024/25 remain the same as 2023/34 for all services listed as per section 6.6 be approved.

(iv) That the indicative central reserve budget for 2024/25 at £1.350m as per section 6.7 be approved.

(v)  That the School Improvement “top-slice” as per section 6.8 be approved.

(vi) That the full 0.5% schools’ block transfer be approved for 2024/25 as per section 7.5

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

The report provides School’s Forum members with update on the excessive surplus balance control mechanism applied for 2022/23.

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 School’s Forum members with an update on the excessive surplus balance control mechanism applied for 2022/23.

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         Members asked whether the surplus threshold of 12 per cent could be lowered to 10 per cent in order to support other schools?  It was agreed that this could be looked into.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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) presented a verbal report 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.

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 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) Discuss and propose any amendments to the forward planner and

d)  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 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.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To discuss any other business.

There was no further business.