Agenda and minutes

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Contact: Luciane Bowker,  Democratic & Electoral Services Specialist

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Items
No. Item

1.

Election of Chairman

To elect a Chairman for the 2022/23 academic year.

Minutes:

Paul Miller was elected Chairman for the 2022/23 academic year.

2.

Election of Vice-Chairman

To elect a Vice-Chairman for the 2022/23 academic year.

Minutes:

Brian Prebble was elected Vice-Chairman for the 2022/23 academic year.

3.

Apologies

To receive any apologies for absence.

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were submitted from Paul Gibson, Ben Godber, Phil Sherwood and Amanda Woodfin.  Amanda Woodfin was substituted by Chris Connian.

4.

Minutes of Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 260 KB

To confirm the Minutes of the Meeting held on 6 July 2022.

Minutes:

The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 6 July 2022 were confirmed as a correct record and would be signed by the Chair at a later date.

5.

Matters arising

Minutes:

Reference was made to the list of matters arising on page 15 of the agenda, and the following comments were made in relation to each point:

 

1.     The Task and Finish Group had met to discuss the National Funding Formula (NFF) consultation.

2.     The Education Welfare Service report was deferred to the December meeting.

3.     The comment in relation to falling rolls was passed to the Admissions Group.

4.     The information about the cost of maternity and sickness was included in the Revenue Monitoring report.

5.     Revenue Monitoring – the Chairman asked that a note be added to show the £1.7million deficit and risks to make it clearer in the report.

6.     An update on the principles behind the funding for all blocks would be shared with Schools Forum in December.

7.     Ian Morgan was of the opinion that it was important that Kerry Clifford, as the only maintained nursery representative, continued as a member of the Early Years Task and Finish Group.  Subsequently Ian Morgan confirmed that Kerry Clifford wished to continue as a member of the Early Years Task and Finish Group.

8.     This update was deferred.

9.     This was a comment.

6.

Declaration of Interest

To receive any declarations of interest.

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

7.

2022/23 Revenue Monitoring Report pdf icon PDF 79 KB

To receive and consider a report outlining the schools’ current financial position.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Katherine Vernon, Schools Finance Manager presented the 2022/23 Revenue Monitoring report and made the following points during her presentation:

 

·           A deficit of £5.7 million was projected, mainly relating to overspend in the High Needs Block (HNB);

·           The increased in-year deficit relates to £1.1 million from the from the HNB and £108k from the Schools Block.  £1.1m of the potential EHCP related in-year overspend flagged in July has already been seen as actual spends;

·           £55k was brought forward from the 2021/22 financial year and is held on behalf of maintained schools for contingencies;

·           It is expected that the new St Cecilia School will open this year (previously anticipated in 2021/22), therefore the Growth Fund estimated cost of the opening has been brought forward.  If classes do not open this year, there will be a carry forward (as shown in the appendix);

·           A review of the de-delegated budget was undertaken and an underspend of £57k is anticipated, this was kept under review;

·           There has been an increase in the number of Education Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).  Due to a lack of suitable places within the borough, children have had to be placed out of the borough. 10 additional places had to be funded at Addington School;

·           Additional funding relating to the 2021/22 financial year had been received for the Early Years Block due to a recalculation by the Department for Education (DfE) based on the census data.  The Early Years Task and Finish Group would discuss proposals for the allocation of the additional funds.

 

The Chairman acknowledged that approximately £1.1million of the projected £1.7 million EHCP related overspend had already materialised and asked if there were any further risks in the projections.  Lynne Samuel, Senior Finance Lead stated the risks were as previously reported, this was based on best available information.  The service was continually reviewing the information provided by the SEND Team.

 

Derren Gray asked for clarification on the Growth Fund figures.  Katherine Vernon explained that the £1.589 million was a top sliced figure agreed by Schools Forum from the Schools Block.  The £1.664 million was the total DfE Growth Fund allocation for WBC.

 

RESOLVED That the 2022/23 Revenue Monitoring report update, with the associated risks be noted.

8.

2022/23 High Needs Block Update pdf icon PDF 180 KB

To receive and consider a report containing an update on the 2022/23 High Needs Block.

Minutes:

Sal Thirlway, Assistant Director for Learning and Partnerships presented the 2022/23 High Needs Block update and made the following points:

 

·           A £4.4 million shortfall in the HNB was being projected, this represented an increase of £1.1 million on what was previously reported.  It was a challenging situation, with a continual increase in the number of EHCPs in the borough;

·           The SEND Innovation and Improvement Programme (IIP) continued to deliver its programme, seeking to find solutions to the challenges faced in relation to the growing cost pressures on the HNB and the increase in demand;

·           Progress had already been made, but there was recognition of the fact that more work was needed;

·           A large piece of work had been undertaken, reviewing the resource spaces within the borough and future demand;

·           The process of application for two new special schools in the borough was already under way;

·           Conversations with the DfE were taking place to try and find solutions to tackle the HNB deficit.

 

Sal Thirlway confirmed that there was a digit missing for the total EHCPs on the last column on page 32, it should read 1651.  There was also a column missing for August 2022 which should read 1672.

 

In response to a question Lynn Samuel explained that the £1.7 million deficit projection was based on the assumption of an additional 30 EHCPs per month.

 

Sal Thirlway explained that the chart on page 36 illustrated the different types of support and placements that could be offered, depending on the level of SEND needs.  This was part of the resource ‘spaces’ review.  It was recognised that some children, given the right level of support, could be educated within mainstream schools within the borough.

 

RESOLVED That the 2022/23 High Needs Block update and associated SEND IIP activity be noted.

9.

DSG Safety Valve pdf icon PDF 133 KB

To receive and consider the DSG Safety Valve report.

Minutes:

Sal Thirlway presented the DSG Safety Valve report.  He pointed out that assumptions had been made in relation to the figures presented in the report and that this was a ‘work in progress’ document.

 

The Safety Valve Programme was a programme being developed by the DfE and the Education Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) for those local authorities with a high level of deficit in their DSG, due to pressures in the HNB.

 

The programme involved an assessment of the situation and how the local authority proposed to address the challenges and plan for the future.

 

A programme of improvement had been set out, looking at short, medium and long term strategies and planning; to continue to support the children and address the deficit.

 

A range of partners were being engaged in the development of the Safety Valve. 

 

Over the last three years, the focus had been on improving the outcomes for young people, by delivering the improvements that were needed.  The focus and challenge now was on sustaining good outcomes, and at the same time addressing the deficit and finding a sustainable future.

 

During the discussion of the item the following comments were made:

 

·           Sal Thirlway stated that the Safety Valve priorities aligned with the priorities already identified by the SEND IIP;

·           There were working groups working on each of the SEND IIP strategic priorities.  The intention was to align the Safety Valve with the work which was already taking place, build on and continue the engagement and co-production with partners;

·           In response to a question, Sal Thirlway stated that the involvement of Schools Forum was extremely important, given the implications on the DSG and HNB funding.  He suggested adding a Safety Valve update as a standing item in Schools Forum’s agendas;

·           Councillor Bray, Executive Member for Children’s Services explained that the Safety Valve was a mechanism to deliver the priorities that had already been identified by the service, it was not a separate initiative.  She emphasised that partnership working was essential to the delivery and success of the programme;

·           It was agreed that it was important to keep leaders informed on the development of the Safety Valve, not just at Schools Forum and the Wokingham Education Partnership, but also at other leaders’ sessions;

·           Helen Watson, Director for Children’s Services endorsed the previous comments and emphasised that this was a collective piece of work.  She stated that Sal Thirlway, Prue Bray and herself were open to hold conversations outside of the meeting too;

·           Carol Simpson noted the ambition to balance the books by 2027/28 and asked when Schools Forum would be provided with the numbers;

·           Sal Thirlway explained that there would be a meeting with the ESFA and discussions would follow to get an agreement on the way forward.  He anticipated that it could take two to three months to get a formal agreement, but he hoped to be able to state the position earlier than that, Schools Forum would be kept informed;

·           Sara Attra endorsed the initiative, however she  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

10.

2023/24 Budget Planning pdf icon PDF 146 KB

To receive and consider the 2023/24 Budget Planning report.

Minutes:

Katherine Vernon presented the 2023/24 Budget Planning report.  She stated that the provisional allocation had been received in July, the final allocation would be received in December after the October 2022 census.  There had been a slight increase in the Schools Block allocation.

 

For 2023/24 local authority’s funding models have to allocate individual school funds within 10% of the National Funding Formula (NFF) rates.  During the summer, modelling with the NFF, minimum and maximum rates had been done, and none of the current models worked with the current rates.  The Task and Finish Group had met and asked for current school pupil number to see if a more appropriate model could be developed.  Schools promptly provided their pupil numbers and it was ascertained that there were an additional 600 pupils in the system.  This additional information has allowed a model to be developed which aligns wit the minimum NFF rates.      

 

With the new pupil numbers it was anticipated that the Growth Fund, of £1.6 million would be insufficient to support predicted growth and the need for new classes.  Lynne Samuel explained that there were risks in relation to the Growth Fund, and the potential opening of new school.

 

The forthcoming consultation will address this matter.

 

Derren Gray informed that the Task and Finish Group had met twice.  There was little difference for schools with the allocation model going 10% below NFF and at NFF, but it was sufficiently significant that the Task and Finish Group had decided to go with 10% below NNF.  Derren pointed out to the DfE colleagues who were in attendance, that it was not fair that the allocation model had to work with NNF rates but the funding to be received will not match it those rates.  Derren also pointed out that there was a significant amount of contingency in the Growth Fund, however this was likely to be needed.

 

It was proposed that the principles of the new funding allocation model be sent for consultation to schools.

 

The Chairman asked for further clarification in relation the clawback of Early Years funding process and how it differed from other local authorities.  Lynne Samuel explained that a further small clawback had been anticipated for the last financial, however there had been an additional allocation instead.  Wokingham’s practice was to re-distribute any additional funding to providers. However, other local authorities generally did not do this.

 

Sal Thirlway explained that officers were thinking about the best way to use the Early Year’s additional funding, in the context of the Safety Valve.  The Safety Valve was looking to reduce the deficit in the DSG, not only the HNB deficit.  However, there was recognition that settings were under significant financial pressure at this time.  A proposal was being considered by the Early Years Task and Finish Group to implement a hardship fund using the unforeseen additional allocation.

 

Ian Morgan stated that he was broadly supportive of the proposal to implement a hardship fund. However, he pointed out that allocation for the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

11.

2023/24 Schools Budget Consultation pdf icon PDF 78 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Lynne Samuel explained the timeline process of consultation with schools on the Budget, had aimed to have the feedback from schools for discussion at this October meeting of Schools Forum.  However, there had been an unprecedented number of challenges in preparing the budget for 2023/24 which had made it impossible to achieve the desired timescales for consultation with schools in time for this meeting.  Had the consultation timeline been achieved, it would have enabled sufficient time to include Schools Forum’s views and apply for any dis-applications to the ESFA.

 

The Local Authority will need to apply for dis-applications before the next meeting of Schools Forum.  There is sufficient time to conduct a consulation before the dis-application deadline.  Officers were asking Schools Forum to accept the schools’ response to the consultation without having an opportunity to consider the outcomes/responses and make a formal response.

 

Lynne Samuel drew attention to the main points of the consultation, which were:

 

1.     Principles of the Schools Block funding formula

2.     Disapplication request for our all-through school re split site funding

3.     Proposed 0.5% transfer from the Schools Block to the High Needs Block 

4.     Notional SEN methodology

5.     Growth Fund methodology

 

Lynne Samuel pointed out that if schools and Schools Forum were not supportive of points 2 and 3, the Local Authority would have to submit a dis-application request to the DfE by November.

 

The Chairman further clarified that Schools Forum had a formal responsibility to make a recommendation on the Budget setting, based upon the feedback gained from the consultation with all the schools in the borough.  However, there would not be another meeting of Schools Forum to discuss the results of the consultation before the deadline to submit dis-applications.

 

Derren Gray clarified that point 2 was to address the inequities created by having an all through school with a large secondary school and a small primary school.

 

In relation to point 3, Derren Gray explained that the Task and Finish Group was willing to help the Local Authority to compose the wording for the consultation, the recurring issue, as in previous years, was to have confirmation of how the money transferred would be used. 

 

Sal Thirlway agreed that transparency was very important and agreed to share this with schools.

 

In response to a question Lynne Samuel stated that it was due to the complexities of this years’ budget setting process, that it had not been possible to submit the consultation to schools earlier.

 

Sal Thirlway confirmed that if the 0.5% transfer from the Schools Block to the HNB was not supported, the Local Authority was likely to submit a dis-application request to the DfE.

 

Schools Forum asked that the Task and Finish Group, in particular Derren Gray, be involved in the production of the wording and explanations to go out in the consultation.

 

Upton being put to the vote, 14 members voted in favour of accepting the consultation results and 2 members voted against it.

 

Lynne Samuel added that there would be information  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

12.

Forward Plan pdf icon PDF 50 KB

To consider the Schools Forum Forward Plan for the remainder of the academic year.

Minutes:

The DSG Safety Valve update was added as a standing item.