Agenda and minutes

To receive the minutes of the meeting held on 29 September 2009

            Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting held on 29 September 2009 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

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

Mrs Archer commented on changes that had taken place since the last report and in particular highlighted that the current projected overspend could increase by £167k if the potential out of borough placements happened before the end of the year.

       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 Services continue rigorous and robust monitoring of the Dedicated Schools Grant and bring budget monitoring reports to future meetings of the Schools Forum.

            Nicki Archer (Deputy Group Finance Manager, Schools) provided a draft of the Dedicated Schools Grant budget for 2010/11.

The overspend of £661k from 2009/10 had to be absorbed initially and this was the main cause of the shortfall in budget for 2010/11. It was noted that this could increase further if the potential out of borough placements, referred to in minute 24, occurred before the end of March. There was also a significant gap between the increase in DSG income generated from the increase in pupil numbers of 21, and the funding needed for the expansion of school provision.

An indication of where savings could be made was set out in appendix C to the report and Paddy Bradley (Director Schools and Learning) commented that there was now a need to introduce a greater level of control on demand led budgets. It was acknowledged that the DSG was a finite amount of money, however, Steve Colledge (Secondary Headteachers) commented that if officers were considering moving any costs to the schools, it should also be recognised that there was a limit to what could be provided within their budgets.

In addition to the proposals set out in the report and appendices, members also put forward ideas for consideration:

• Scrap the 5% and 8% limit on retained monies.
• Reduce Statementing.
• Set a deficit budget along with a recovery plan.
• Capitalise on the old Even Swindon School and site.

Nick Capstick (Primary Headteacher) remarked that Heads were continually being asked to raise standards but reduce budgets. It would be helpful to inform the Council that raising standards cost money, and they were not going to increase on the current level of funding. David Easter (Primary Governor) commented that governors were responsible for setting school budgets and yet they were often left out of the loop. The Director Schools and Learning agreed to arrange a meeting with governors to inform them of the situation.

Members agreed to set up a sub group to consider the 2010/11 budget and a possible strategy for future years. In addition, it would also consider the process for settling equal pay claims, as set out in minute 26. Both items would be reported to the meeting on 9 March 2010 but an additional meeting would be scheduled for 17 March at 4.00 p.m. in case it was not possible to make final decisions at the earlier date.

            Resolved – That the Schools Forum:

(1) Notes that there is a potential budget deficit of £1.62 million in 2010/11.

(2) Will work with Officers to identify proposals that will reduce the deficit (Appendix C to the report detailed some options for discussion).

(3) Agrees to set up a Schools Forum Sub Group to work with officers on setting a balanced 2010/11 DSG budget by the Schools Forum meeting on 9 March 2010 and to work on planning for future year budgets. The Sub-Group to consist of Rachael Mattey, Clive Zimmerman, Peter Crockett, Chris Davis, Nick Capstick, Steve Colledge and Peter Wells.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 25.

            Paddy Bradley  (Director Schools and Learning) presented a report with the outcome from the Equal Pay consultation responses commented on the proposals that had received the most votes from Headteachers, as set out in paragraph 2.2.

Peter Wells (Secondary Headteachers) advised that the options involving top slicing would be particularly detrimental to voluntary aided and foundation schools, because of the way their finances worked. It became apparent that there had been confusion as to which schools could vote in the consultation and that many of the voluntary aided or foundation schools would not have voted for a preferred option. Members also noted that without any clarity on the actual amounts involved, there could be a significant difference in a school’s liability between the two most popular options and there were now other pressures to be considered. 

It was a greed that the Sub-Group, set up under minute 25(3), should also consider options for settling the equal pay claims, taking all points into consideration.

            Resolved – That the Schools Forum Sub-Group submit proposals to the meeting on 9 March 2010 for setting a budget for 2010/11 and for settling equal pay claims, which takes into account the extreme pressure on the Dedicated Schools Grant and the requirement to agree the process for funding equal pay, and also takes into account the needs of the maintained, voluntary aided and foundation schools.    

            Nicki Archer (Deputy Group Finance Manager, Schools) provided an update on the implementation of the Early Years Single Funding Formula (EYSFF).

It was noted that the EYSFF had previously been agreed for implementation from April 2010 and that all nurseries within the Borough had been planning for that date. The Chair raised the issue of funding as she had received a query from the Head Teacher of Goddard Park Primary School.

       Resolved – That the Schools Forum agrees that Swindon make an application to the Department for Children, Schools & Families (DCSF) to become a pathfinder for the EYSFF and therefore that the EYSFF is implemented as planned from April 2010.

            Terri Menham (Primary Headteachers) advised that she was resigning from the Schools Forum and as she was unable to attend the meeting on 9 March, this was her last meeting. On behalf of the Forum, the Chair thanked Mrs Menham for all her hard work and contributions to the Schools Forum.