Agenda and minutes

The Chair introduced Phil Beswick, Service Director for Education Services to the meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Shan Alexander, Simon Finch, David Marshall, Stephen Powell and Norrie Williams

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 20 May 2014.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 20 May 2014 were approved as a correct record.

To discuss any matters arising.

(a)  With regard to Matters Arising on 20 May 2014 (b) (1), a representative of the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services reported that a large number of families had been checked for eligibility for taking up school meals, although it was not possible to state with certainty that 100% of families had been checked.  The data would indicate that the vast majority of those who were eligible were claiming and therefore school funding is applicable and appropriate.

(b)  With regard to Matters Arising on 20 May 2014 (b) (2), a representative of the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services provided an update that 22 of 56 schools had now been written to informing them of the individual school capital allocation of the universal infant free school meals (UIFSM) grant funding.  Three more schools would be contacted this week and the rest would be contacted before the end of the current term.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services

The report provides members of the Forum with an executive summary report of the business matters included on the main agenda.

The 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 Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing members of the Forum with an executive summary report of the business matters on the agenda.

RESOLVED - That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Corporate and support Services

The report provides members of the Forum with the updated Terms of Reference for approval and the current membership list and terms of office.

The Forum is requested to approve the revised Terms of Reference and confirm the updated information regarding membership and terms of office.

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

A representative of the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing members with the updated Terms of Reference for approval, together with the current membership list and terms of office.

The Forum was advised that the current Chair of the Forum, (Ian Roberts) term of office was due to end in August 2014 and following the departure of Damian Cunningham (Harrytown High School) in December 2013, the Schools Forum had also been operating without a Vice Chairperson.  Paul Carter (Secondary Governors representative) has expressed an interest in taking up the post of Schools Forum Chairperson, with the proviso that Ian Roberts continues in a Vice Chairperson capacity to provide some transitional guidance and support.  Ian Roberts was content to continue in this capacity.  It is proposed that section 3.1 of the Stockport Schools Forum Terms of Reference be amended as follows:

“The term of office for members will be four years.  There will be no restriction on the numbers of terms individual members may serve, however the Chairperson of the Forum will serve no more than eight successive years.”

RESOLVED (1) That the report be noted.

(2)  That the membership list in Appendix 2 is confirmed.

(3)  That the amendment to section 3.1 of the Stockport Schools Forum Terms of Reference be amended to read:

“The term of office for members will be four years.  There will be no restriction on the numbers of terms individual members may serve, however the Chairperson of the Forum will serve no more than two terms or eight years consecutively.”

(4) Peter Hughes to contact all Schools Forum members and invite nominations for the position of Chairperson and/or Vice Chairperson.

(5) Peter Hughes to report back at next meeting on all the above matters

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services

The report outlines to the Forum the local authority’s intentions regarding the 2014 financial consultation and seeks views to help in shaping the planned approach.

The Forum is requested to note the report and offer any comments and views relating to any of the areas outlined in the report.

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

A representative of the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) outlining to the Forum the Local Authority’s intentions regarding the 2014 financial consultation and seeking views to help in shaping the planned approach.

The Council was forecasting a further significant reduction in resources over the period 2015-17 and was currently working through approach and priorities. It would be inevitable that the level of resource reductions would result in a “sea change” in how services were scaled, configured and provided, with implications for the partnership and financial relationship with schools.

At this stage the Forum was advised of a variety of contextual information restricted to the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG); the local formula, specialist provision and the early years and high needs blocks.  The information outlined that there was a need for some changes in the short term and a significant challenge ahead on the prioritisation of resources and that the Local Authority intended to engage with stakeholders (i.e. Schools Forum, head teacher groups, governing bodies etc.) as appropriate on addressing the landscape in a constructive, inclusive approach.

(i)            Mainstream Local Funding Formula

The minimum funding guarantee (MFG) protection mechanism would continue to provide financial stability to schools in 2015/16 and ensure any school due to receive a reduction in delegated budget share allocated would be protected to ensure such reduction does not exceed more than -1.5% per pupil.

(ii)          Special Schools and Resourced Provision

Due to the very short timeframes governing the school funding reform changes required from April 2013, a very simplistic approach was adopted specifically relating to special schools and resourced provision/special unit settings. A simple current to new model requirement conversion task was undertaken and it was now becoming evident that a more structured, strategic and needs based review was required for the Local Authority to ensure sufficient provision is mapped to meet the special needs of the Stockport cohort in the medium-long term and appropriately resourced in line with the place-plus funding model.

(iii)         Centrally Retained Funding

The high needs block (HNB) budget had moved into a more challenging position in 2014/15 for the reasons detailed in the report and it had been necessary to deploy £0.7m of reserves to balance the DSG budget in 2014/15.  This position was unsustainable and it was necessary therefore to re-evaluate how the HNB budget is constructed in the future.         

(iv)         Early Years

The Local Authority was considering as part of the 2015/16 budgetary considerations whether it was appropriate to redirect some funding from the early years block (EYB) and to therefore consult on:

a)    A reduction in the base rates used in the early years single funding formula (EYSFF); and/or

b)    A top-slice of the two year old offer funding

(v)          Post 16

The post 16 budget in the HNB was experiencing significant budgetary pressure and this was a key contributing factor that had required the Local Authority to deploy reserves to balance the 2014/15 budget.  The number of Post 16 learners in mainstream provision with additional learning support continued to increase.  The Local Authority was currently working quickly to implement required changes to deliver the reforms required by the SEN and Disability Regulations 2014 and corresponding Code of Practice.  Transition planning for young adults was a key component aimed at ensuring young people were able to achieve their aspirations around work, training and further education.  Although it was expected this will have a positive impact on the budget it was the case this area of the HNB budget did need additional resources and as such these needed to be redirected from other areas.

(vi)         Pupil Referral Unit’s (PRUs)

In accordance with the new funding reform framework implemented from April 2013, the Local Authority was now required to provide all PRUs with a delegated budget share based on the “place-plus” funding system as opposed to the devolved budgets previously  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services

The Forum is recommended to:-

·         Note the updated schedule of meetings for the academic year 2014/15 as outlined at section 3.1;

·         Request any reports for future meetings;

·         Discuss any amendments to the forward planner; and

·         Request any items for training/development sessions.

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

A representative of the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) updating the Forum on the schedule of meetings for the 2014/15 academic year.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

It was noted that this will be the last meeting which Bernadette Singleton will be attending.  The Forum acknowledged her hard work and thanked her for her service.  It was noted that Helen Hilton will be representing Ms Singleton until a permanent replacement has been found.

The next meeting of the Forum is scheduled to be held at 4.15pm on Tuesday 23 September 2014 at the ICT Centre, Kingsway School, Broadway Campus.

RESOLVED – That the next meeting of the Forum be held on Tuesday 23 September at the ICT Centre, Kingsway School, Broadway Campus with an optional question and answer session on reports to be considered to be held prior to the commencement of the meeting at 3.45pm.

The meeting closed at 6.05pm.