Issue - meetings

Report ED12042

Members of the Forum considered a report outlining changes to the Schools’ Forum constitution proposed by the Local Authority following the introduction of the Schools Forums (England) Regulations 2012, which would come into affect from October 2012. 

The Head of ECS Finance outlined the main changes which included the inclusion of a representative of the Pupil Referral Unit to the membership of the Forum, new restrictions to voting arrangements which would allow only school and academy representatives (and private, voluntary and independent sector members) to vote on the funding formulae, and a requirement for Forum meetings to be public and for Forum papers, minutes and decisions to be published on the Local Authority website.  The Education Funding Agency would also be given Observer Status on the Forum and would be able to attend future meetings. 

In response to a question from Anna Bosher, the Head of ECS Finance confirmed that changes to voting arrangements had been introduced to give schools more responsibility for the allocation of funding.  With regard to absence from meetings, the Head of ECS Finance confirmed that members of the Schools’ Forum could individually nominate a substitute to attend a meeting where they would be absent, and that this would be clarified in the Constitution.

RESOLVED that the proposed changes to the Schools’ Forum constitution be endorsed.