Meeting documents

Apologies were received from Mr A Wanford (Green Ridge Academy), Ms P Coppins (Manor Farm Community Infant) and Ms P Thompson-Omenka (Service Director Education) BCC.

The Chairman declared an interest in item 7; the school was in receipt of the Growth Fund.

Ms C Glasgow declared an interest in item 6 as the union representative.

RESOLVED: The minutes from the meeting held on 15 October 2019 were AGREED as an accurate record and signed by the Chairman.

RESOLVED: The actions from the meeting held on 15 October 2019 were AGREED as completed or on the current agenda.

Verbal update to be provided by the Chairman of the Schools Forum Funding Group, Ms K Tamlyn.

Ms K Tamlyn gave an overview of discussions at the Schools Forum Funding Group (SFFG) held on 20 October. 

The action points from the SFFG held on 20 October 2019 would be appended to the minutes.

ACTION: Ms C Beevers

To be presented by Ms J Try, Finance Business Partner (Schools).

To include updates on:

A.   Schools Block

B.   Central Schools Services Block

C.   High Needs Block

D.   Early Years

Ms J Try, Finance Business Partner (Schools), gave an overview of the report provided, the following points were raised in discussion:

• It was asked what contributions were still being made to the Bucks Learning Trust (BLT) contract. It was advised the BLT services were now back in-house. The historical financial commitment was sitting with the Early Years teams.
• It was asked if the £7m settlement figure in the budget was a one off or would be recurring.  Officers confirmed that some assumption had been made as the settlement had not yet been announced and they aired on the side of caution in producing the budget.  An update would be provided at the next meeting.

ACTION: Ms J Try

• Concerns were raised regarding the length of the consultation and how clear it was for those completing it.  It was stated that the timeline for the consultation was constrained due to the lateness of information published by the DfE. 
• It was suggested that in the future a list of relevant contacts be included to provide advice and support to schools completing the consultation.
• It was stated following a discussion at the recent SFFG meeting; model 1 was the preferred option.

Recommendations

1.1-       Schools Forum members are asked to note the information set out Part A and Part B including the accompanying appendices.

1.2-       To adopt model 1 MFG at + 0.5% as the preferred local funding formula for

2020-21 as this will bring the greatest number of schools closest to the NFF

1.3-       To note the modelling is on indicative allocations with final allocations due in December 2019, which will be used to update the preferred model.

RESOLVED: The forum NOTED the information set out in Part A and B.

RESOLVED: The forum took a vote and AGREED to adopt model 1 MFG at + 0.5% as the preferred local funding formula for 2020-21 as this would bring the greatest number of schools closest to the National Funding Formula (NFF).

RESOLVED: The forum NOTED the modelling was on indicative allocations with final allocations due in December 2019, which would be used to update the preferred model.

To be presented by Ms J Try, Finance Business Partner (Schools), BCC.

Ms J Freeman (Kingswood School) gave an overview from the De-delegation meeting.  The following points were raised in discussion:

·         Ms C Glasgow, NASUWT, Teachers trade union

raised a number of concerns re De-delegation for union facilities, these were appended to the minutes.

·         It was also added that the under spend had been happening for a number of years It was advised union facilities for academies was not part of the maintained schools dedelegation and that separate arrangements exist for this. The Chair of the Schools Forum Maintained Schools subcommittee suggested that a business case be presented by the unions at the de-delegation meeting in 2020.

Recommendations:

1.1-       To note the information in this report and appendices.

1.2-       That mainstream maintained primary and secondary representatives of Schools Forum agree to a total de-delegation rate for Existing delegation of £7.30 per pupil in Primary and £9.05 per pupil in Secondary, and to agree services that have no de-delegation funding in 2020-21 will be reconsidered for funding in 2021-22.

1.3-       That mainstream maintained primary and secondary representatives of Schools Forum agree to a total de-delegation rate for former ESG services of £3.50 per pupil.

1.4-       That special school and PRU representatives on Schools Forum agree to a total de-delegation rate for former ESG services of £14 per place.

RESOLVED: The forum NOTED the information in the report and appendices.

RESOLVED: That mainstream maintained primary and secondary representatives of Schools Forum took a vote and agreed to a total de-delegation rate for existing delegation of £7.30 per pupil in Primary and £9.05 per pupil in Secondary, and agreed services that had no de-delegation funding in 2020-21 would be reconsidered for funding in 2021-21.

RESOLVED: That mainstream maintained primary and secondary representatives of Schools Forum took a vote and agreed to a total de-delegation rate for former ESG services of £3.50 per pupil.

RESOLVED: That special school and PRU representatives on Schools Forum took a vote and agreed to a total de-delegation rate for former ESG services of £14 per place.

To be presented by Ms E Williams, Head of Finance (Childrens), BCC and Ms H Slinn, Head of Integrated SEND, BCC.

To include a presentation from Impower.

Ms E Williams, Head of Finance (Children’s Services) and Ms H Slinn, Head of SEN, gave an overview of the report provided.  The following points were raised in discussion:

• Ms A Prowsen, Impower, gave a presentation which would be appended to the minutes.
• It was stated that alongside the needs codification tool for SEND, there needed to be an underpinning of the legislation and it was agreed this would be taken into account. Ms K Simmons and Ms H Slinn to discuss outside of the meeting.

ACTION: Ms H Slinn

The forum noted the improvement in completion of Educational and Health Care Plans (ECHP) assessments

RESOLVED: The forum NOTED the report.

To be presented by Mr J Carter, Schools Accountant, BCC.

Ms E Williams, Head of Finance (Children’s Services) gave an overview of the report provided, there were no further points raised in discussion:

RESOLVED: The forum NOTED the report.

Verbal update to be provided by Mr G Drawmer, Head of Achievement and Learning, BCC.

Mr G Drawmer, Head of Achievement and Learning, BCC, gave a verbal update on unitary, the following points were raised and discussed:

• It was expected that all staff would be TUPE’d over to Buckinghamshire Council on 1 April 2020.
• The new branding for the Council had been agreed and would start to be rolled out.
• Business rate discussions were still ongoing, further updates would be shared.
• It was asked if updates could be shared when sending E payslips.  Mr Drawmer would investigate. 

ACTION: Mr G Drawmer

• It was stated that information had gone out to mainstream schools that has caused some confusion due to schools employing their own staff. It was advised that BCC were aware of the situation and were responding to queries individually.
• A reminder was given from the union member that as of 1 April 2020, all staff would be under a new employer and would automatically be enrolled onto the pension scheme. If anyone did not want to be a part of the pension scheme they would need to opt- out.

RESOLVED: The forum NOTED the update.

To include an update on the Membership Proposed Plan- to be presented by Ms J Try, Finance Business partner (Schools).

It was agreed that the item on Banding would be moved to the March meeting. 

ACTION: Ms C Beevers

RESOLVED: The forum NOTED the forward plan.

Schools Forum membership – secondary schools -

Ms J Try, Finance Business Partner (Schools), gave an overview of the report provided, for the membership proposed plan the following points were raised in discussion:

The forum agreed in principle they were happy to take this forward, with an agreement for a review to take place in September.

ACTION: MS J Try

Side by Side – concern was raised about ongoing funding for the side by side project and if it would continue.  It was advised that it was funded by an ongoing grant agreed in November 2016 with a figure of around £650, 000 per year. BCC had a strategy in place to cover the fund were it to be reduced. Minutes from Children’s select committee 27 November 2019.

Impower presentation

A member of the forum asked who had paid for the consultation carried out by Impower.  It was advised that the local authority had paid for this and that it had not been taken from the High Needs Block. Officers would ensure that the outcome of the work with Impower would be shared when the final report was agreed. 

21 January 2020, 1.30pm-4.00pm.

Mezz 3, New County Offices.

21 January 2020, 13.30-16.30pm

Mezzanine 3, New County Offices, Aylesbury.

To resolve to exclude the press and public as the following item is exempt by virtue of Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12a of the Local Government Act 1972 because it contains information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)

To resolve to exclude the press and public as the following item is exempt by virtue of Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12a of the Local Government Act 1972 because it contains information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)

To be presented by Mr G Lamb, Policy & Reward Consultant, BCC.