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 fro Catherine Whitehead and Jo O’Raw.

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 7 December 2023.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 7 December 2023 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.

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.

To consider a verbal presentation of the Chief Executive.

The presentation provides Schools’ Forum members with an overview of the ‘One Future Plan’

This is a hyperlink to a video on the ‘One Future Plan’  One Stockport. One Future. (Phase 2) (vimeo.com)

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

The Chief Executive, Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council, gave a verbal presentation which updated Schools’ Forum members on the ‘One Future’ Plan.

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         How does the plan connect with some of the more deprived areas of the Borough which can often feel on the margins?  In response, the Forum was advised that Stockport did not want to be known purely for being the most polarised Borough.  The aim was that, via the One Future Plan, there would be improvements in transport to help areas feel more physically connected, communities and teams working together, bidding for capital investment, and investing in a new model of healthcare.  The plan was not easy or ready made but there was a sharp focus on being a Borough that was not defined by inequality.

·         The video had been produced by a local company and one of the apprentices had done the voiceover.  The plan was meant to inspire and energise stakeholders and community leaders in Stockport.

·         A short discussion took place relating to how education and social care should work together in fresh and innovative ways. Also how people coud be equipped with the right skills to carry out the jobs that are needed to be done.

·         The Forum acknowledged that funding was lacking in many areas and with this often came a sense of frustration and a lack of agility to be proactive.  Perhaps cutting through red tape and beaurocracy would be helpful?

·         It was vital to have huge ambition for the children of Stockport, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds.  Education needed to be front and centre of the plan.

·         The Forum requested that the Chief Executive returns to address them when there is further detail available.

RESOLVED – that the verbal presentation be noted.

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

The report Schools’ Forum members with the final details of the 2024/25 Schools Funding announcement by the Department for Education (DfE) on 19 December 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 with the final details of the 2024/25 Schools Funding announcement by the Department for Education (DfE) on 19 December 2023.

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         The Forum welcomed the news regarding the grant payment.

·         In response to a question asking how the funding compared to the inflationary figure, the Forum was advised that it was hoped that in the greater scheme, the settlement and actual costs would not be too far away from each other.  Inflation remained high and was largely dependent upon energy payments.

·         The formula was based on the numbers on roll and would therefore fluctuate.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The report provides an update on the 2024/25 Schools Budget.

Schools’ Forum members are asked to:

a)    Note the report;

b)   Provide any comments on the final budget plans outlined in section 3 / Appendices 1-2 for early years block;

c)    Approve the updated budget allocations for the central school services block as per section 4 / Appendix 3;

d)   Provide any comments on the final schools’ block local funding formula model as per section 5 and the overview table at section 5.10 / Appendix 4

e)    Note the adjusted central reserve budget for 2024/25 at £1.298m as per section 5.6

f)     Note the final de-delegated budget allocations at section 5.8 which are aligned to the decisions confirmed at the last meeting;

g)   Give views/comments on the high needs block information as per section 6.

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 an update on the 2024/25 Schools Budget.

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         The Forum was advised that the indicated budgets would be provided the day after this meeting.  Alongside this, a revised MFL toolkit for 2025/26 onwards would be provided so that schools could update budget software and so on.  The indicative budgets could not yet be considered final, but they were unlikely to change.

RESOLVED – (i) that the report be noted.

(ii)  That the updated budget allocations for the central school services block as per section 4 / Appendix 3 be approved.

(iii) That the adjusted central reserve budget for 2024/25 at £1.298m as per section 5.6 be noted.

(iv) That the final de-delegated budget allocations at Section 5.8 which are aligned to the decisions confirmed at the last meeting, be noted.

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

The report provides School’s Forum members with details of the final 2024/25 Local Authority (LA) annual pro-forma toolkit (APT) return to be submitted to the Department for Education (DfE).

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 2024/25 Local Authority (LA) annual pro-forma toolkit (APT) return to be submitted to the Department for Education (DfE).

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.

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         In relation to EHCP plans, school requests for these have gone down but parental requests had gone up.  It was agreed that a discussion on this would be scheduled for the next meeting of Schools Forum.

·         It was stressed that it was vital to work together across education, health and social care as EHCP plans had a significant impact on resources.

·         In addition, it was important for parents to understand what good SEND support looks like.

·         The Forum wished to thank Bev Milway for all the hard work she had done and the support she had given whilst developing the DSG Review and the DBV program.

RESOLVED – That the verbal 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 other business.