Agenda item

          The Forum considered a report by Mr Ian Burbidge, Head of Finance, Schools, updating members on various unresolved budget issues that arose at the Schools Forum meeting on 17^th March 2015.  Mr Burbidge advised that the report addressed (a) changes to the Dedicated Schools Grant Allocation, (b) reference to Mainstream School Budgets, (c) a change to the overall budget requirement relating to Pupil Growth Funding and (d) changes to various High Need commissioned provisions.  He further advised that the report then highlighted items to be considered by members as part of the 2016/17 budget setting process.

          Mr Burbidge, Head of Finance, Schools and Mr Peter Nathan, Head of Education, responded to questions and comments regarding the following issues:

• The recruitment of an Early Years Engagement Officer to promote Early Years take-up.
• Effects on PDI outreach provision due to differences in funding between maintained schools and academies,
• Confirmation that moderation on banding systems within specialists’ settings would be undertaken and how the system would benefit from a review of current timescales of reviews by the Special Education Needs team.

          Resolved: (1) That the Schools Forum:

          (1) Notes that due to the changes in the EFA funding, £0.500m equal pay liability remains outstanding and this will result in an increase in central costs of £0.031m.

          (2) That further to (1) above, the Head of Finance be requested to circulate information relating to interest to be paid before the next meeting of the Forum.

          (3) Notes the current position regarding Early Year’s income and expenditure based on the current projection of take up.

          (4) Agrees to the proposal to recruit an engagement officer and to purchase an application portal to link with the Council’s existing IT systems.

          (5) Notes the current position with regard to former non-recoupment academies.

          (6) Notes the proposals to review the trigger funding policy to accommodate situations outside the current policy.

          (7) Notes the proposal to start a consultation on a 6^th form provision at Crowdy’s Special School.

          (8) Notes that £0.018m will be paid to Uplands Special School to maintain the current 138 places.

          (9) Notes the changes to the Ridgeway HI Unit coming into effect on 1^st September 2015.

          (10) Notes the changes to the Ruskin ASC Unit.

          (11) Notes the issues regarding the Nyland Campus Outreach Team (NCOT) service being caused by 6 academies choosing not to buy back the service.

          (12) Notes the changes to the funding applications made to the Special Educational Needs Resource and Assessment Panel (SENRAP). 

          (13) That the Head of Education be requested to liaise with the Special Education Needs team regarding a review of timescales in moderating banding systems within special education needs settings.

           (14) Agrees the proposals to use £0.030m of the exclusions income to support reintegration.

           (15) Notes that there will be a further adjustment to Secondary School Basic Per Pupil Entitlement (BPPE) rates in 2016/17 to reflect the increase in place funding at the Education Other Than at School Service (EOTAS).

           (16) Agrees to the creation of a Student Resource Package (SRP) Funding Review Task Group to review SRP funding and provide funding recommendations for the 2016/17 financial year.

           (17) Further to (16) above, notes the suggested task group membership as referred to Appendix 1 of the report and would include Jackie Smith, Special Headteacher, Wendy Conaghan, Academy Headteacher, Steve Colledge, Chair and Academy Headteacher and Kate Adams, Early Years representative. 

           (18) That further to (16) above, agree the terms of reference as referred to in Appendix 1 of the report.

           (19) That further to (16 above), an additional meeting of the Forum be set up in December 2015 to review a report by the Task Group.