Issue - meetings

Report ED13099

Members of the Forum considered a report outlining the final Dedicated Schools Grant allocation for 2013/14.  Following the deduction of the academy and high needs recoupment, Bromley’s final allocation had been confirmed as £129,123,000.  The Local Authority expenditure was unchanged with the exception of academy and high needs expenditure which was now showing as recoupment and was therefore offset against the income. 

A surplus of income over expenditure had been identified which totalled £1,085,452.  This was mainly due to the increase in the number of pupils used to calculate the Early Years Funding, which was likely to be offset by an increase in in-year expenditure on these pupils, and a decrease in the amount of funding that had been recouped from the Local Authority for academies, relating specifically to the adjustment for Special Educational Needs funding for the period April to August 2013.

In considering the surplus of income of expenditure for 2013/14, the Head of Schools Finance Support confirmed that this funding could only be utilised in the Early Years or High Needs funding blocks for the 2013/14 year, however this restriction would not apply if the funding was carried forward as a surplus to 2014/15.

Alison Regester highlighted the importance of ensuring the Special Needs supplement, which provided support for children in Early Years settings who had been identified as having additional needs, continued to be funded.  The Vice-Chairman confirmed that any proposal to reduce or discontinue this supplement would be provided to the Schools’ Forum for its consideration, at which time alternate funding options could be explored. 

In discussion, Members of the Forum noted that surplus of income of expenditure for 2013/14 might be utilised in part or in full by the increase in the number of pupils used to calculate the Early Years Funding, and that no alternate funding options should be considered for the 2013/14 financial year.  Any remaining surplus should be carried forward to 2014/15, when the use of these funds could be considered across all three funding blocks.

RESOLVED that:

1)  The final Dedicated Schools Grant allocation for 2013/14 be noted; and,

2)  The surplus of income of expenditure not utilised in-year to fund the increase in Early Years pupils be carried forward to 2014/15.