Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were submitted by Dominic Geraghty, Linda Orr and Clare Sheppard.

To confirm the Minutes of the Meeting held on 18 November 2015.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Schools Forum held on 18 November 2015 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman, subject to Minute 35 (Consultation Results) being amended to reflect Derren Gray’s view that running Charvil Piggot and Piggot as a split site would be unsustainable in the medium term if current funding remained the same.

To receive any declarations of interest.

There were no declarations of interest.

To finalise the agreement on the School Forum membership. (15 mins)

At its meeting on 18 November 2015 the Forum agreed to move to a membership comprising:

10 primary school members

2 maintained secondary members

5 secondary academy members

1 special school member

1 pupil referral unit member

1 nursery member

Members of the Forum provided updates on the new members who would be joining. The Chairman also reported that Nick Dyer (Vice Chairman) had resigned as a member of the Forum. There was no need to find an additional Governor member. Appointment of a new Vice Chairman would be considered at the next meeting.

RESOLVED That:

1)      The revised membership of the Schools Forum be noted.

2)      The appointment of a new Vice-Chairman be considered at the next meeting.

To receive and consider the draft 2016/17 budget report. (15mins)

The Forum considered a report (pages 13-15) which set out a draft Schools Budget for 2016/17 in advance of the announcement of the DSG settlement from DfE which was expected on or after 16 December 2015.

The report highlighted the changes in projected income and expenditure since the previous draft. These included a reduction in pupil numbers of 344. The anticipated schools block funding for 2016/17 now stood at £92.8m. The draft Budget showed a projected net overall surplus of £699k in 2016/17 which incorporated an in-year deficit of £62k.

The Forum considered key lines in the draft 2016/17 Budget and discussed the format for discussion of the final draft Budget at the Forum meeting on 20 January 2016.

Members requested that the next meeting consider 3 basic Budget options centred around a maximum surplus, a zero surplus and a mid-point surplus. Members also requested a detailed breakdown of the School-Specific Contingencies Budget line.

Donna Munday, Schools Finance Manager, reported that the Authority Proforma Tool (APT) had been reissued to Councils, updated to include October 2015 census based data. For Wokingham schools the updated APT indicated a fall in the number of pupils attracting deprivation funding from 2,200 to 1,600.

The Forum considered how the change in deprivation numbers should be factored into the Budget modelling to be considered at the next meeting. It was felt that two options should be modelled:

·       Maintain the level of deprivation funding and allocate the full amount to the 1,600 pupils affected.

·       Reduce the level of deprivation funding pro rata and allocate the remaining balance to all schools using AWPU.

RESOLVED That:

1)      The final draft Schools Budget for 2016/17 be considered at the Forum meeting on 20 January 2016.

2)      The Budget report include modelling on three options: maximum surplus, zero surplus and mid-point surplus.

3)      That the modelling also reflect the two options relating to the reduced number of pupils attracting deprivation funding.

4)      The Budget report include a detailed breakdown of the School-specific Contingencies Budget line.

5)      The Budget papers be circulated to Forum members by email on 11 January 2016.

6)      Additional meetings with Primary and/or Secondary members of the Forum be arranged if necessary.

To receive and consider a report outlining the de-delegation of budgets. (30 mins)

The Forum considered a report, pages 17-18, which explained the regulations relating to de-delegation and proposed the continuation of the current de-delegation scheme into 2016/17.

The report stated that funding for delegated services must be allocated through the formula but could be de-delegated for maintained primary and secondary schools with the approval of the Schools Forum. De-delegation was not an option for academies, special schools, nurseries and pupil referral units.

The report set out the current list of de-delegated services, viz:

·       Contingencies

·       Behaviour Support Services

·       Support to underperforming ethnic groups and bilingual learners

·       Insurance

·       Licenses/subscriptions

·       Staff costs re supply cover

Forum members considered the proposed list of de-delegated services for 2016/17. Primary and secondary maintained school representatives then voted separately on the proposals.

RESOLVED That:

1)      The proposed list of de-delegated services set out in the report be agreed for primary and secondary maintained schools for 2016/17.

2)      That the rates set out in the report be adopted subject to any changes arising out of the Indicative DSG allocations to be announced on 16 December 2015.

To receive and consider a report giving details of the allocation of pupil premium grant for Looked After Children. (20 mins)

Alan Stubbersfield referred to a report which gave details of proposals to revise the method of distributing Pupil Premium Grant for Looked After Children with effect from April 2016.

As members of the Forum had not received the report prior to the meeting it was agreed that the report be recirculated and considered at the next meeting.

RESOLVED: That the report be deferred to the January 2016 meeting of the Forum.

To receive and consider a report outlining the funding of Foundry College. (15 mins)

RESOLVED: That this item be deferred to the February 2016 meeting of the Forum.

To receive and consider the alternative provision report. (15mins)

RESOLVED: That this item be deferred to the February 2016 meeting of the Forum.

To receive and consider the revenue monitoring report. (15mins)

The Forum considered a report , pages 19-21, which gave details of the outturn position on the Schools Budget funded by the Dedicated Schools Grant (including EFA), Pupil Premium Grant and Universal Infant Free School Meal grant.

Donna Munday reported that the position had improved by £74k since the previous meeting of the Forum, resulting in a current net surplus of £761k. The improvement was due to additional savings relating to fees for pupils at independent special schools.

Donna Munday also confirmed that she would be meeting Paul Miller in early 2016 to review the layout of the monitoring report.

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

The Forum to consider the split site benchmarking factor and consultation responses to questions 20 and 24. (30 mins)

RESOLVED: That this item be deferred to a future meeting of the Forum.

To receive and consider the a report giving details of virtual school top slicing. (15 mins)

Alan Stubbersfield reported that there was no top slicing of Education Budgets for the Virtual School.

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

To consider the Forums work programme for the remainder of the municipal year. (5 mins)

The Forum considered the Forward Programme of work and dates of future meetings as set out on Agenda pages 27-28.

RESOLVED That:

1)       Allocation of Pupil Premium Grant for Looked After Children be considered at the January 2016 meeting.

2)       Funding of Foundry College and Alternative Provision Review be considered at the February 2016 meeting of the Forum.

3)       Future meetings of the Forum commence at 9.30 am.

4)       The next meeting of the Forum, on 20 January 2016, be held at St Crispins School.