Agenda and minutes

Venue: Bromley College of Further and Higher Education, Rookery Lane, Bromley, BR2 8HE

Contact: Philippa Gibbs  020 8461 7638

Items
No. Item

25.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from David Bridger and Colin Ashford.  Councillor Fortune, the Portfolio Holder for Education also tendered his apologies.

26.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

 

27.

MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 24 NOVEMBER 2016 pdf icon PDF 134 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 24 November 2016 were approved, and signed as a correct record.

 

28.

Dedicated Schools Grant 2017-18 pdf icon PDF 142 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Report ED17032

 

The Schools’ Forum considered a report which provided an outline of the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) allocation for 2017/18 and an overview of how this would be spent.  The DfE released the DSG allocations on 20th December 2016 alongside the second stage of the consultation on the National Funding Formula (NFF) and the High Needs Funding Formula (HNFF) to be introduced in 2019/20.  The final DSG allocation was in line with the expectations of LA Officers with details of the allocation set out in Appendix 1 of the report.

 

For 2017/18 the Blocks were not ring fenced and therefore an overspend in one block could be offset against an underspend in another block in order to ensure that the DSG was balanced overall.  The Early Years Block funding had been allocated based on the new Early Years Funding Formula (EYFF) which had been consulted on earlier in the year.  The allocation for Bromley had increased, as anticipated, which meant that no savings had needed to be found in this area and that most EY providers would see an increase in their funding in 2017/18.

 

The High Needs Block had received an allocation of £46 million from which the DfE deducted funding recouped for an agreed number of places at special academies, AP academies and other post 16 institutions.  These deductions totalled £6.774 million bringing the allocation to the High Needs Block down to £39.2 million.

 

It had been anticipated that around £2 million savings needed to be identified and achieved within the High Needs Block in 2017/18.  Following the meeting of the Schools’ Forum on 15th November 2016 and the meeting of the Working Group on 12th December 2016 the following savings were identified and included in the proposed budget allocation for 2017/18:

 

-  1.5% reduction on top up bands for special schools, AP provision and unit places from September  £86k

-  1.5% reduction on banded top up funding for statemented pupils in mainstream schools from September £25k

-  Savings to be identified within the Sensory Support Services £50k

-  Additional funding target for primary and secondary schools to contribute towards the cost of non PEX (permanently excluded pupils) at the PRUs  £100k

-  Savings to SEN transport costs charged to the DSG  £100k

-  Savings to be identified within the Phoenix Pre School Service £392k

 

The savings identified totalled £753,000, considerably short of the target that had been originally identified and, even after receiving around £460,000 for population growth, the High Needs Block remained overspent by £820,000.  In recognition of the challenges facing Local Authorities in Balancing the High Needs Block the DfE had announced a new grant entitled High Needs Strategic Planning Fund.  This was to be paid to Local Authorities in January 2017.  Bromley would receive a one off payment of £140,000 to be used to carry out a full strategic review of the high needs provision.

 

Prior to the re-alignment of the funding blocks in 2016/17, the Schools Block was overspent  ...  view the full minutes text for item 28.

29.

Constitution of the Schools Forum pdf icon PDF 60 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Report ED17031

 

The Schools’ Forum considered a report which provided an overview of the representation on the Schools’ Forum.  The Constitution was last fundamentally reviewed in September 2012 when the DfE introduced new Schools’ Forum Regulations.  Since then there have been no further major DfE regulation affecting Schools’ Forums.

 

As a result of a number of LA maintained primary schools converting to academy status there needed to be a shift in membership with an increase of two primary academy members and a decrease of two primary maintained members of the Forum.

 

It was proposed that:

 

a) there was a reduction of one maintained primary governor representative (down to zero), the position is currently vacant.
b) there was a reduction of one maintained primary head representative (down to one), there are currently two maintained primary head representatives.
c) there was an increase of one academy primary head representative (up to two).
d) there was an increase of one academy primary governor representative (up to three).

 

It had also come to light that there were currently two representatives from one school on the Forum, in breach of paragraph 1.10 of the Constitution.  It was recommended that the Member with the shortest length of membership should be removed from office and an alternate member sought.

 

It was recommended that no changes to the Non-Schools Membership be made at this time.

 

The Forum noted that there would be three vacancies on the Forum.  The relevant group would be asked to nominate a representative using a democratic process.  Where this would not possible the Council would approach the relevant group for nominations.

 

In light of the proposed changes Janice Box agreed to step down as a Maintained Primary Head Teacher representative.

 

A Secondary Head Teacher representative queried the rationale behind the differing number of primary and secondary head teachers and the Head of ECHS Finance explained that the membership was based on pupil numbers.  The Secondary Head Teacher asserted that the number of primary and secondary head teacher representatives should be the same.

 

In relation to the breach of paragraph 1.10, Dr Martin Airey reported that he would be prepared to step down if necessary and the Secondary Head Teachers’ Forum who elected him would have to discuss this and nominate another representative.

 

The Forum also noted that Sam Parrett and Neil Miller represented the same Multi Academy Trust and that this would need to be reviewed.

 

In view of the inclement weather that was closing in and the potentially difficult driving conditions the proposed changes to the Constitution of the Schools’ Forum were immediately put to the vote.  It was agreed by majority that the proposed changes to the Constitution be approved.

 

RESOLVED: That the proposed changes to the Constitution of the Schools’ Forum be recommended to the Education Budget Sub-Committee for approval.

 

 

30.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

Minutes:

No other business was considered.

31.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING

Dates for the 2017/18 Municipal Year have not yet been scheduled.  Members of the Schools’ Forum will be advised of dates as soon as they are available.

 

Minutes:

It was agreed that an additional meeting would be held at 4.30pm on Thursday 9th March 2017.

32.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1972 AS AMENDED BY THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (ACCESS TO INFORMATION) (VARIATION) ORDER 2006 AND THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000

The Chairman to move that the press and public be excluded during consideration of the items of business listed below as it is likely in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings that it members of the Press and public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information.

 

Minutes:

RESOLVED: that the press and public be excluded during consideration of the items of business listed below as it is likely in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings that it members of the Press and public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information.

33.

PART 2 (EXEMPT) MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 24 NOVEMBER 2016

Minutes:

The Part 2 (Exempt) Minutes of the meeting held on 24 November 2016 were agreed, and signed as a correct record.