Agenda item

To receive and consider a report giving details of the requirements for growth provision within the DSG and an analyses on internal recharges.

The Forum received and considered a report giving details of the requirements for growth provision within the Dedicated School Grant (DSG) and an analysis on internal recharges; this was set out on Agenda pages 25-32.

The Forum welcomed the proposal to review this report annually as it enabled Headteachers to prepare for any difficulties that might arise in the future.

Matthew Marsden tabled a revised forecast relating to the new secondary school to replace table on page 27. One of the forecasts within the report had been made with the predicted admission number of 90, it was noted that the Published Admission Number was 180. After discussion, it was clarified that no minimum number of pupils was required to open the new school.

In discussion of the item the following points were made:

·           Members asked that as soon as the data containing parental preferences was available that this information was passed to the schools to help Headteachers to prepare their organisation plans accordingly.  It was understood that the data would be a rough estimate.  It was feared that as a result of the new secondary school, the pupil numbers in some other secondary schools would be reduced in future years, consequently affecting the schools’ budget negatively.

·           Matt stated that the new school was not the only reason for the deficit and it was expected that most schools would receive reductions in funding.

·           It would be useful to know what proportion of the deficit related to the new secondary school.

·           It would be useful to know the reality of the impact of potential cuts to each individual school.

·           The Forum questioned about DFE regulations on deficit, Donna would clarify it at the next meeting.

·           Officers indicated that it was hoped that the indicative budgets would be provided by the end of November.  Academies and Free Schools were asked to provide Officers the data of the pupil census as soon as possible to enable the preparation of the report.

·           It was pointed out that the Early Years requirement to increase childcare to 30 hours per week had not been taken into account.

The Forum asked that more options to deal with the deficit to fund the new secondary school be explored, such as:

·           Spreading the cost of the deficit over a longer period of time, maybe 20 years;

·           Borrowing to cover the deficit in the short period until the school starts to receive income.

Donna suggested that it may be possible to borrow money from the schools’ current surplus.  The Forum was sympathetic to this idea and would like to explore it.

It was noted that Wokingham had the worse funding per pupil in the country.  It was reported that John Redwood was lobbying with the Central Government to change this situation.  It was suggested that schools could engage with parents to join efforts to put pressure on the government to improve the situation for Wokingham.

The section of the report giving information on internal recharges was considered. It was suggested that it would be clearer to have one line in the budget showing the consolidated internal charges amount.

RESOLVED That:

1)     the options that were discussed to deal with the deficit be presented to the Forum at the November meeting;

2)     schools be informed of parental preferences by November if possible.