Issue - meetings

To consider the Draft 2022/23 Schools Block Budget.

Katherine Vernon presented the draft 2022/23 Schools Block Budget.

During the discussion of this item, the following points were made:

·       The provisional October census data had been received.  There had been an increase of in the region of 750 pupils last year.  Initially modelling had been based on an income of £126million.  This had now increased to £130million.  The Growth factors which were based on the number of pupils from one year to the next had also been updated.

·       Katherine Vernon took the Forum through the results of the consultation with schools.

·       Katherine Vernon highlighted the draft figures that would be sent round to schools for comment.  The £128million referred to, took off the £1.5million which it was recommended would be retained for the Growth Fund next year.  Only schools that had received a drop in pupil numbers of 4% or more compared to last year would receive less funding than last year.

·       The Age Weighted Pupil Unit had increased for all levels and the amount allocated to the minimum per pupil funding level had decreased.  The Minimum Funding Guarantee allocation had reduced compared to last year.

·       Derren Gray thanked Katherine Vernon for the work that she had put into the different models.

·       The Chairman referred to Appendix D of the 2021/22 Revenue Monitoring Report, which detailed the Growth Fund and the figure recommended to be taken out of the Dedicated Schools Grant to allow growth across the Borough.  He questioned how the 2022/23 figures had been reached.  He was informed that for 2021/22 £800,000 had been retained from the Schools Block funding and £475,000 was carried forwards, giving £1.2million available to spend for this year.  Discussions were ongoing around primary contingency and secondary contingency relating to additional classes for January.  Officers highlighted the commitments for new classes of just over £1million for this year.  The difference between what was available and what was to be committed for the year was £260,000.  The Chairman questioned how much of the £1million remained as a contingency and was informed that it was £163,000, which could carry forward should the additional classrooms not come into effect in January.

·       Clarification was sought on the levels of contingency. 

·       Ginny Rhodes thanked Officers for the improved reporting.  She went on to refer to the formula for the Growth Fund and questioned whether the Growth Fund was funded to schools on the number of places that the Local Authority had requested, for example for a bulge class, or on the numbers of pupils that started at the school.  Katherine Vernon confirmed that it was the number requested as this was the number that the School would have had to plan for.  Derren Gray added that work was being undertaken around the best way to forward fund those contingency places.  Of the 240 secondary places in the contingency, 180 were for Year 7.  Last year 101 places were funded but only 67 pupils had taken up the places.  There was disparity between the four secondary schools with regards  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19