Agenda item

To receive and consider a report containing clarifications and updates relating to requests raised at previous meetings of the Forum.

The Forum considered a report, set out on Agenda pages 15 to 18, which provided an update on a number of matters arising from previous meetings. The report addressed the following issues:

·         A detailed analysis of all internal recharges for 2016/17 compared to 20115/16. During the discussion the following points were raised:

The Forum requested more detail on the work of the Corporate Transport Unit including the services provided by the unit, any trends in the level of recharge and the number of families using home to school transport across the Borough.

The Forum requested more information on any significant variations in the level of other recharges between 2015/16 and 2016/17, for example in relation to operational property.

·         Clarification on the process for consulting school leaders on the provision of additional school places. The report stated that the Council was committed to briefing schools on place planning. Decisions to expand a school or open a new school were made by the Council’s Executive and were based on publicly circulated written reports. During the discussion the following points were made:

The Chairman stated that the Schools Forum membership contained a significant amount of knowledge and experience which could be used to inform the decision making process relating to school place planning across the Borough. To date this knowledge and experience had not been utilised.

Jane Winterbone confirmed the Council’s intention to improve the levels of transparency and engagement relating to school place planning. This would include discussions with the new Executive Member for Children’s Services.

Alison Swaddle (Deputy Executive Member for Children’s Services), confirmed that the key messages from the Forum would be fed back into discussions about improving the decision-making process.

The Chairman referred to the EFA Schools Forum guide, specifically paragraph 13 which stated that “Consultation must take place when a local authority is proposing a contract for supplies and services which is to be funded from the Schools Budget and is in excess of the EU procurement thresholds”.

Derren Gray referred to the report submitted to the March 2017 meeting of the Forum on Pupil Movement and Lagged/Double Funding (Minute 43 refers). The report had sought the Forum’s approval to a revised mechanism for funding primary schools for the additional cost associated with opening a new class until school formulaic funding was sufficient to make the class sustainable. It was confirmed that the Forum did not approve the proposed funding mechanism at the March meeting. The Chairman suggested that this issue be considered at the July meeting in association with the updated report on the 2017/18 Growth Fund.

·         Confirmation that the 2016/17 expenditure on redundancy costs did not exceed the budget. Derren Gray requested clarification on the position of academies in relation to requests for help with redundancy costs.

·         Clarification on the operation of Just Around the Corner as a registered charity but not a registered education provider. The position was noted.

·         Clarification on instances where SEN transport was funded and families also received Disability Living Allowance (DLA) – DfE had confirmed that receipt of DLA did not disqualify an individual from benefitting from free transport to school. The Forum would be updated if this position changed.

·         John Bayes confirmed that a report on Foundry College, requested by the Forum, had been completed and forwarded to Officers and would be circulated as part of the review of the High Needs Block funding and expenditures in July.

·         Collette Sutton confirmed that the issue of recoupment of business rates was under investigation and would be reported back to the Forum.

RESOLVED That:

1)    the report be noted;

2)    the Forum receive a further report on Internal Recharges with more detail on the work of the Corporate Transport Unit and other significant year to year variations in the level of charges;

3)    the Council’s commitment to improved transparency and consultation with the Forum be welcomed;

4)    the proposed mechanism to fund primary schools for the additional costs associated with opening a new class be considered at the Forum meeting on 19 July 2017;

5)    the Council’s responsibilities to consult with the Forum, as set out in the EFA Schools Forum guide, be noted;

6)    clarification be sought on the position of academies seeking help with redundancy costs and be reported back to the Forum;

7)    the report on Foundry College be considered at the July meeting of the Forum;

8)    the potential for recouping the supplemental business rates allocated to Contingencies in 2016/17 be investigated and reported back to the Forum.