Agenda and minutes

To receive the minutes of the meeting held on 8 February 2010

            Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting held on 8 February 2010 be confirmed and signed as a correct record. 

            Nikki Soave (Principal Auditor) provided a report with information on the Financial Management Standards in Schools (FMSiS) re-assessment process for Primary and Special Schools.

            Resolved – That the 2010/11 FMSiS external assessment process and the progress made to date of the external assessments conducted in 2009/10, be noted. 

Report to follow.

            Nicki Archer (Deputy Group Finance Manager, Schools) introduced a report with the budget monitoring information to the end of January 2010 in respect of the Dedicated Schools Grant for 2009/10.

The projected overspend had reduced by £28k since the last monitoring report and since this report had been written, further substantial savings had been identified from Early Years provision. Members were also advised that the day provision at Marlborough House would end this summer and that the staff would be redeployed.

            Resolved – (1) That the 2009/10 financial projections in respect of the Dedicated Schools Grant for the current financial year be noted.

(2) That the Group Director children continue rigorous and robust monitoring of the Dedicated Schools Grant and bring budget monitoring reports to future meetings of the Schools Forum

The report on the outcome of the Sub-Group meetings will be issued as soon as possible.

            Nick Capstick (Primary Head teacher) presented a report on behalf of the Schools Forum Sub Group to provide the Forum with a Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) budget for 2010/11 and to agree how the Equal Pay compensation payments would be funded.

He explained that the Sub Group had met twice to determine proposals relating to the 2010/11 budget and equal pay issues but it had also been agreed that the Sub Group should continue to meet with officers to explore ways of reducing the pressures on future years budgets.

The current shortfall in the DSG budget for 2010/11 was £859k and the Sub-Group were recommending a topslice of £1 million across all schools, based on the pupil numbers. This amount would give a balanced budget for 2010/11 and provide a contingency against future years budget pressures. It was stressed that the balance of £141k would be used solely to reduce the forecast shortfall for 2011/12 and if not required, would be re-distributed to the schools, it would not be returned to the Authority.

It was noted that the topslice proposal would mean that the Central Expenditure Limit (CEL) would be breached in 2010/11. The Central Expenditure level was 11.8% for 2009/10 and was estimated to be 12.9% for 2010/11.

Sally Inskip (Diocese) enquired whether consideration had been given to capitalising the old Even Swindon School and site, as mentioned in the minutes of the last meeting. It was explained however that this would provide capital funding and was not directly relevant to the budget issues. It was also confirmed that primary schools had been made aware, through SAPH, of the possible topslice to their budget.

With regards to the Equal Pay Consultation, both options 3b and 4b had initially received the most votes. The Sub Group had considered these options in the light of the proposed topslicing of school budgets for 2010/11 and was now recommending option 3b, as set out in paragraph 2.27 of the report as being the most equitable.

The Forum noted the proposals and the Chair thanked the Sub Group for its work in finding a solution and for its continuing endeavours to reduce budget pressures in future years.

Members voted on the recommendations, with the results for (2) and (3) being:

·        Recommendation (2) Equal Pay – 8 for and 1 against

·        Recommendation (3) Topslice – 8 for and 0 against.

            Resolved – (1) That the Schools Forum agrees to the continuation of the Sub-Group and for it to work closely with officers to significantly reduce the retained element of the Dedicated Schools Grant by restructuring the management of services.

(2) That the Schools Forum agrees that Proposal 3b from the Equal Pay Consultation be implemented.

(3) That the Schools Forum agrees to a total topslice of £1 million across all schools, based on pupil numbers, in order to balance the Dedicated Schools Grant budget for 2010/11.

(4) That the Central Expenditure Limit (CEL) for 2010/11 is likely to be in breach by the level indicated  ...  view the full minutes text for item 32.

            The Chair informed members that this would be the last Forum meeting attended by Nicki Archer. She thanked Nicki for her hard work during this difficult period and wished her well for the future.