Agenda item

To consider a proposal to move budget from the School Block Budget to the High Neds Block at the permitted half a percent.

Coral Miller went through the report which was set out in agenda pages 39-41.  The report was seeking approval from Schools Forum to the Council’s proposal to move half a percent from the 2018/19 Schools Block Budget to the High Needs Block Budget.

Coral Miller explained that the DfE had made a number of changes to the School Block Budget, one of these changes was to ring fence the School Block Budget, imposing a restriction on transferring funds.  There was a little bit of discretion in that the DfE allowed the Council to transfer a maximum of half percent to another block after consultation with all schools, including academies and approval from the Schools Forum.

Coral Miller informed that the half a percent equated to approximately £473K on the current minimum figures available.

Coral Miller stated that the consultation had taken place and there had been 17 responses out of 65 schools, the responses were listed in the report. 

John Ogden stated that it was advisable to accept this proposal to alleviate the pressure on the High Needs Block.

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

·           Corrina Gillard stated that most Headteachers were opposed to the funding of outside of the Borough independent schools places;

·           Jane Winterbone pointed out that if the Local Authority did not meet a child’s needs there was the risk of incurring tribunal costs;

·           Jane Winterbone stated that there were cases where there were no spaces within reasonable distance in maintained schools.  However, there was a lot of work being undertaken to look at the costs and try to find the best possible option;

·           Jane Winterbone explained that some cases that involved very complex needs and were unlikely to change;

·           Jane Winterbone stated that the service was looking at current placements and the possibility of commissioning places in Northern House, but it was necessary to balance the risk of tribunals;

·           Derren Gray stated that the general view of Headteachers was against this proposal, it was felt that Schools Forum should have been consulted first.  Coral Miller explained that the DfE required a consultation with schools to take place before the consultation with Schools Forum;

·           In response to a question Coral Miller stated that Schools Forum could agree to a different percentage as long as it was within the half percent;

·           Paul Miller asked if it was possible for Schools Forum to have an input into how this half percent would be used, in relation to spend to save.  Jane Winterbone explained that it would be very difficult due to the complexities involved in the placements;

·           Sylvia Allen was of the opinion that if HNB was allowed to carry forward a deficit, there was no reason to take the money away from the Schools Block Fund.  Coral Miller stated that it was necessary to have a plan to mitigate the HNB deficit;

·           Members felt anxious that if they agreed to half percent this year, this would set a precedent.  Coral Miller believed that this was the right approach for 2018/19, after that the new funding formula would come in and it was likely that the figures would be different;

·           Some Members felt that this money should not be taken away from all the other 20 thousand or so pupils in the Borough;

·           Some Members felt that agreeing to this proposal would send the wrong message to the DfE, perhaps giving the impression that it was acceptable to have the budget cut by half percent.

Paul Miller explained that if Schools Forum decided against the proposal, the Council were likely to apply to the DfE and still be allowed to move the half percent from the School Block Budget without Schools Forum endorsement.

RESOLVED That Schools Forum would not agree to the proposal of moving half percent from the 2018/19 Schools Block Budget to the High Needs Block.