Issue - meetings

To receive a report containing the 2019/20 Contingency Update.

Katherine Vernon, Schools Finance Manager presented the 2019/20 Contingencies update report.

Katherine Vernon stated that there were no changes since the previous meeting, with £77k uncommitted, representing an underspend which would be carried forward.

Helen Ball asked if this fund could be used to cover potential costs resulting from the corona virus outbreak and if there were any additional plans in place.

Sal Thirlway, Assistant Director Learning Achievement and Partnerships stated that currently there were no additional plans for schools.  Schools would have to find any additional funding from within their own budgets.  He was in regular contact with the Public Health for England and the government about this issue and he was updating schools accordingly.

Brian Prebble stated that it had been suggested that schools might have to increase class sizes during staff absences.  Helen Ball added that Headteachers would have to risk assess if this was feasible or not.

The Chair believed that if the government declared a notifiable disease, schools would be able to make insurance claims.

Ian Morgan stated that he had checked with Early Years insurance providers and corona virus was not covered in their policies.

Helen Ball stated that depending on the circumstances it might be easier closing schools.

Sal Thirlway stated that the safest place for children was at school, it was necessary to balance the advice from the government, local circumstances and the implications to society in closing a school.  The Local Authority would not tell schools to close, it would work with schools to mitigate the situation as much as possible.

Kerry Clifford stated that some parents were choosing not to send their children to nursery as they were not yet at the statutory school age.

Sal Thirlway stated that the Local Authority was sending out messages to try and reduce people’s anxiety.  He stated that the advice given when people called 111 was dependent on what individuals were reporting, the triage was based on what was said, this was why the advice given could vary.

The Chair stated that if the situation changed and escalated and schools had to close, schools might be able to put in a bid for contingency funds.

Sal Thirlway stated that schools were advised to follow the advice from Public Health England.

Shirley Austin stated that there were concerns about the contingency date for GCSE exams, should exams have to be moved due to the corona virus, some parents had already booked their holidays assuming the contingency date would not be used. 

Sian Lehter asked what the advice was regarding schools’ overseas trips.  Sal Thirlway stated that schools should follow the government advice and not travel to the category A areas.

Lynne Samuel stated that if necessary, the finance team would look at any financial implications resulting from the corona virus outbreak.

Sal Thirlway confirmed that at the moment it was business as usual, if anything changed he would communicate with schools.

RESOLVED That the report be noted.