Issue - meetings

To receive and consider the 18/19 Contingency Breakdown report.

Coral Miller presented the 18/19 Contingency Breakdown report which was set out in agenda pages 21-24.

Coral Miller stated the report contained information about how the contingencies fund was being spent.  This fund was available, if needed, to maintained schools only.

Coral Miller stated that there had been two claims approved in this financial year.  Further to the previous report to Schools Forum, a claim had been approved for a school which had had a business rate adjustment which was unexpected by the school of approximately £51k.  This school had already lost a significant number of pupils from 2017/18 which resulted in a significant reduction in its budget for 2018/19.  The Local Authority decided that this was an exceptional situation and agreed to fund it for one year only.

In response to a question Coral Miller stated that this money would be recovered next year. 

Coral Miller stated that there was £81k in the contingencies fund not yet committed.

In response to another question Coral Miller stated that she had not received further proposals from schools to convert to academy status this year, therefore, even if the schools that had benefited from this fund now, applied to convert, it would not affect this financial year.

RESOLVED That the report be noted.