Agenda item

To receive and consider the 2022/23 Central School Services Block Budget.

Lynne Samuel presented the 2022/23 Central School Services Block Budget report.

During her presentation the following comments were made:

·           The allocation for the 2022/23 Central Schools Services Block was £995K, this represented an increase of £50K from this year’s allocation;

·           This Block provided a contribution to the Council’s costs of delivering statutory duties, and the operational guidance allowed for a number of headings;

·           £145K was top sliced for government arranged licences and there was no local control over the figure;

·           Schools Forum was asked to agree to £448K for the delivery of statutory regulatory duties as follows:

o   £117K for Education Welfare

o   £49K for Asset Management

o   £236K for other ongoing duties

·           The appendixes provided a breakdown of the figures.  The breakdown was broadly the same as this year’s, the only significant difference was the increase in supporting system and information costs which was previously part funded by maintained schools through de-delegation;

·           The overall cost to the Council of delivering statutory duties was much higher, at around 2 million, this Block budget was a contribution towards the total cost;

·           The School Improvement Service had historically been funded by a separate grant.  However, the government had indicated that this arrangement would change so that this service would be funded by the Schools Block.  At this stage there was no further detail about this proposal.

Amanda Woodfin asked if the allocated amount for Education Welfare allowed for improvement of the provision.  Lynne Samuel stated that it did not, as this was not the total cost of the service, it was only a contribution towards it.  Where there was a need to further invest in services, the Council funded additional costs.

Amanda Woodfin pointed out that the demand for Education Welfare services had significantly increased recently due to the pandemic.  Lynne Samuel stated that this could be reflected upon in future discussions at Task and Finish Groups, especially in view of the potential changes to the funding of Schools Improvement.

It was agreed that it would be useful to have a further discussion in Schools Forum about the funding of Education Welfare services, with a report to include information about the total cost of the service to the Council.

Brian Prebble asked how the changes in senior leadership in the Council affected the costs on the Central Schools Services Block.  Lynne Samuel explained that the Central Schools Services Block provided a contribution only to the total costs of services, when there were fluctuations, they did not affect the overall amount available from this Block.

In response to a question Lynne Samuel stated that a full review of traded services would take place during the year, and schools would be consulted.

It was agreed that timeline for the traded services review work be presented to the March meeting of Schools Forum.

In response to a question Lynne Samuel explained that references to the cost of the IT system referred to the Capita system used by the Council and not IT systems at schools.

In response to a question Lynne Samuel agreed to include a percentage as well as the total number of the allocation for the Central School Services Block.  She explained that the DfE had used historical commitments to calculate the formula when the four blocks were created.  Wokingham had never benefited from historical commitments prior to the four blocks being put in place and therefore was in a better position than other local authorities in terms of feeling the impact of the new funding formula.

A recorded vote took place and Schools Forum unanimously approved, with 19 votes in favour, the 2022/23 Central School Services Block Budget.

RESOLVED That: 

1)     The 2022/23 Central School Services Block Budget be approved;

2)     A report containing information about the Education Welfare Service will be brought to Schools Forum; and

3)     A timeline for the traded services review work would be brought to the March meeting of Schools Forum.