Issue - meetings

To consider a report on the 2019/20 Centrally Retained Block.

Lynne Samuel stated that in 2018/19 the Central School Services Block (CSSB) had a budget of £944k which had increased to £946k for 2019/20.  She explained that during the course of 2018/19 the DfE had clarified that the Council now had to fund copyright licences from this Block.  The funding of the Council’s statutory duties had therefore been reduced by £129k (to accommodate licence costs), with only £817k remaining to be allocated towards the cost of statutory duties for 2019/20.  Lynne Samuel stated that the allocation of £946k for 2019/20 did not reflect the total cost of the services.

In response to a question Lynne Samuel stated that the Council subsidised the remaining cost of the statutory services from the general funds.

RESOLVED That:

1)     Schools Forum accepted the allocation proposed; and

2)     Schools Forum noted that the provision was significantly less than previously allocated and significantly less than the actual costs incurred.