Agenda and minutes

In the absence of the Chair nominations to chair this meeting of the Schools Forum were sought.

Resolved: That, in the absence of the Chair, Ray Williams, Governor Representative, be appointed to chair this meeting of the Schools Forum.

To receive the minutes of the meeting held on 8^th July 2014.

          Resolved: That the minutes of the meeting held on 8^th July 2014 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

            Mr Paddy Bradley, Head of Economy and Skills submitted a report updating members on changes to the Forum’s membership and terms of condition.  Mr Paddy Bradley introduced the report and referred to the terms of reference for headteachers and governors and explained that due to the new structure, nominations for Chair and Vice Chair were being sought.  Due to apologies submitted by the incumbent Chair, members agreed to postpose the election of the Chair to the next meeting and requested that nominations for Vice-Chair be sought from those members present.  Members agreed that voting for Vice-Chair was to be conducted during the meeting and Janet Urban, Headteacher, Westrop School, was elected as Vice-Chair.

          Resolved – (1) That the report be noted.

            (2) That Janet Urban, Headteacher, Westrop School, be elected as Vice-Chair.

            (3) That the Head of Economy and Skills, be requested to seek nominations for Chair from School Forum Members.

          The Head of Finance, Education and Innovation, submitted a report on the latest position of the 2014/15 retained Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) budget.

Mr Steve Haley advised that based on information to the end of August 2014, there was a minor projected overspend of approximately £0.066m against the retained DSG budget for the current year and Appendix A to the report provided details on the budget areas which were causing the overspend.   He referred to the proposed re-allocation of funds for the existing disadvantaged 2 year old pupil funding and explained this would be used to increase capacity for 2 year olds places including a new nurseryat the Tadpole Farm School.

          Resolved – That the Schools Forum:

          (1) Notes that based on information to the end of August 2014, an in-year overspend of £0.066m was projected against the 2013-14 retained Dedicated Schools Grant budget.

          (2) Supports that £0.200m of existing disadvantaged 2 year old funding be allocated to increase capacity of which £0.150m will partly be used to create a 48 place nursery for 2 year olds at Tadpole Farm School.

          (3) Supports that £0.006m of existing disadvantaged 2 year old pupil funding be allocated to fund the appointment of a temporary Early Years Project support officer up to 31st March 2015.

          The Head of Finance, Education and Innovation, submitted a report updating members on the 2014/15 financial position, particularly regarding (a) the inclusion of all Swindon Academy pupils in the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) calculations; (b) an update on the overall DSG position; (c) additional funding available from the Education Funding Agency (EFA) and from National Non Domestic Rates (Business Rates) (NNDR) refunds and proposals regarding equal pay.  

          Mr Steve Haley confirmed that following the Department for Education’s changes to the High Needs block funding and the resolution of the Swindon Academy matter, DSG would be increased with a final estimated 2014/15 DSG settlement of £153.574m plus the LA would also be reimbursed by the EFA for £0.5m of place funding paid to Uplands Sixth form.  He described  the funding and spending of DSG blocks spanning from early years to age 19 in schools, including SEN Sixth Form and for vulnerable young people to age 25 and explained that in the longer term the £0.5m should be passed on to mainstream settings.   As this was not possible in the current year the funding could however be used to repay central equal pay liabilities.   Mr Haley also updated Forum members on the positive position regarding NNDR (Business Rate) refunds arising from academy conversions and revaluations including a proposal to use £0.8m of NNDR refunds to repay equal pay liabilities. 

Mr Haley went on to describe the overall position regarding equal pay reminding Forum members that at the July meeting they had approved in principle the repayment of £0.7m central liabilities using part of the unallocated DSG balance.  Based on the EFA (£0.5m) and NNDR (£0.8m) funding identified a total of £2m could be repaid which would significantly reduce the central budget for loan repayments over the next 17 years.   In response to a query regarding the possibility of investing £2m or using it for other purposes Mr Haley advised that there were no mechanisms in place to invest DSG funding and that it could only really be used for one off costs such as pupil growth set up costs. 

          Resolved – That the Schools Forum:

          (1) Notes the latest position regarding Swindon Academy pupil costs and that additional funding was to be provided by the Education Funding Agency (EFA) meaning that Swindon will not be detrimentally affected by the end of partial recoupment arrangements.

          (2) Notes that the latest estimate of Swindon’s overall 2014/15 DSG settlement was £153.574m.

          (3) Notes that Swindon will receive £0.5m of EFA funding to effectively reimburse the DSG for place costs at Uplands Sixth Forum.

          (4) Agrees that this will be used to repay £0.5m of equal pay liabilities in 2014/15.

          (5) Agrees that this will be used to enhance mainstream BPPE rates by £0.5m from 2015/16 onwards. 

          (6) Notes the position regarding school National Non Domestic Rates (NNDR) charges.

          (7) Agrees that the current NNDR balance was to be used to repay £0.8m of equal pay liabilities in 2014/15 which will leave a more reasonable sum  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.

          The Head of Finance, Education and Innovation, presented a report updating the Forum on the final outturn position for the 2013/14 academic year and the proposed funding allocations for 2014/15 for post 16 high need students that included students attending further education colleges, independent specialist college and other training providers. 

          Mr Haley made reference to Table 1 in the report, reflecting the student numbers and spending position. He referred to the £0.611 underspend against the enhanced budget and explained that this had remained unchanged since the projections reported in the July meeting (Minute 3 refers).  This was the difference between the initial position in July 2013 as compared with the final position in July 2014.

          Mr Haley also commented on the funding available for 2014/15, particularly on the expected funding arrangements for Uplands Educational Trust (UET) following its accreditation as an Independent School Provider by the Education Funding Agency.

          Mr Haley drew member’s attention to paragraph 5.5 of the report regarding placements at Independent Specialists Provider Colleges (ISP) that included the UET and gave a breakdown of estimated costs for 2014/15. 

          Mr Paddy Bradley, Head of Economy and Skills referred to the collaborative work with Special Schools Headteachers undertaken over the past three years to determine banding process for pupil led funding.

          Resolved – That the Schools Forum:

          (1) Notes that the final 2013/14 academic year budget position arising from the Local Authority’s new funding responsibilities for post 16 High Need students was that actual spend of £2.902m was £0.611m lower than the enhanced budget agreed by Schools Forum in July 2013.     

          (2) Notes that the academic year costs relating to the period April 2014 to August 2014 of £0.595 will need to be met from the 2014/15 financial year budget.

          (3) Notes that the LA’s latest estimate was that a total of 267.8 full time equivalent (FTE) post 16 (excluding school sixth form) high needs students will need to be supported financially during the 2014/15 academic year.

          (4) Notes that the estimated annual net costs of 46.8 FTE placements at ISPs was £0.791m of which £0.528m (2/3) will be charged to the 2014/15 budget.

          (5) Notes that 24 unplanned places will require element 2 funding of £0.144m will be paid to providers of which £0.096m (2/3) will be charged to the 2014/15 budget.

          (6) Agrees increased band values as shown in Table 3 which will be used to allocate 2014/15 funding for FE Colleges and training providers which will result in revised 2014/15 annual allocations to FE colleges and training providers totalling £1.205m of which £0.803m (2/3) will be charged to the 2014/15 budget.

          (7) Notes the overall 2014/15 financial year and 2014/15 academic year budget position as shown at Table 4 of the report.

          The Head of Finance, Education and Innovation, submitted a report providing the Forum members with (a) updates regarding Schools Block and Early Years Block Dedicated School Grant (DSG) proposals for 2015/16, (b) the indicative impact of increases to early years and mainstream school funding, (c) budget proposals relating to some centrally funded services, (d) information on options to enhance pupil growth funding for expanding school and (e) an update on de-delegations.  Mr Haley advised that pages 69 to 93 included detailed calculations and had not been intended for publication.

          Mr Haley referred to the introduction of the Minimum Funding Level (MFL) proposed by the Department for Education resulting in a higher than expected increase for Swindon by 3.6% on current schools block DSG per pupil.  He explained that the additional funding would be delegated to mainstream schools and referred to the expenditure options agreed by members at the July 2014 Forum meeting (Minute 10 refers).  Mr Haley also explained that due to improved DSG settlement and the reduction in the historic post 16 high needs subsidy, the Basic Per Pupil Entitlement (BPPE) for Key Stages 1 to 4 would be enhanced by a proposed 4.15% year on year increase.  Appendix 1 had been provided to show a breakdown of the indicative impact on individual schools.

Mr Haley proceeded to explain options available to increase pupil growth trigger funding for 2015/16.  He advised that whilst there was no policy changes proposed to pre-opening, start-up costs and set-up funding, expanding schools would automatically attract 4.15% increase to their funding arising from the BPPE increase.  He suggested that in light of the improved DSG schools block settlement that the Forum may wish to support the payment of sector average pupil funding rather than just BPPE funding as described in Table 2 of the report.   

The Forum noted that Swindon Association of Primary Heads had agreed, at their meeting on 24^th September 2014, to support continued central funding of the Nylands Campus Outreach Team via de-delegation as required by DfE to comply with the school finance regulations.  Mr Haley referred to the financial implications for primary schools and explained that academies would be able to use this facility through an optional Traded Services agreement.

Primary Sector Schools’ Forum representatives debated on whether the LA should continue to commission the primary behaviour support service provided by the Nylands Campus Outreach Team beyond the financial year 2015/16 to alleviate uncertainties for the staff employed by the service. They further discussed the financial impact of school expansions and out of borough placements for pupils attending Special Schools and benefiting from Special Resource Provision (SRP).  Mr Paddy Bradley, Head of Economy and Skills referred to Swindon’s approach and specialist high needs provision and commented on the importance of reviewing strategies for this provision due to the increase in the demand for these services.  He explained that a review of the long term impact of pupils using these services as they move into adulthood would be conducted and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.