Agenda and minutes

Ms J Freeman opened the meeting and advised she would be Chairing the meeting in place of Ms K Tamlyn, who had unfortunately had to step down as the Chairman of the Schools Forum. Ms Freeman passed on her thanks to Ms K Tamlyn for all of her help and support to the Schools Forum over the years.

It was advised that the Chairman of the Schools Forum would not be replaced at this meeting but this would be completed offline following the meeting.

Apologies were received from:

Mr A Gillespie- Burnham Grammar School

Ms J Cochrane- Sir Henry Floyd Grammar School

Ms J Robertson- Brushwood Junior School

Mr E Hillyard- Holmer Green Secondary School

Ms J Pearce- Waterside Primary Academy

To disclose any Personal or Disclosable Pecuniary Interests.

There were no declarations of interest.

The minutes of the meeting held on 11 October 2022 were AGREED as an accurate record.

The actions from the meeting held on 11 October 2022 were reviewed and AGREED as completed or carried forward.

To be presented by Ms E Williams, Head of Finance (Children’s Services)- Buckinghamshire Council.

Ms E Williams, Head of Finance (Children’s Services)- Buckinghamshire Council gave an overview of the report provided.

Recommendations:

Schools Forum is asked to note the report.

Resolved:

Schools Forum NOTED the report.

To be presented by Mr J Carter, Schools Management Accountant- Buckinghamshire Council.

Mr J Carter, Schools Management Accountant- Buckinghamshire Council gave an overview of the report provided.

Recommendations:

a)      To agree the draft constitution for Schools Forum.

b)      To seek representatives from the Primary Academy, Secondary Academy (Upper and Grammar), Maintained Nursery and Maintained PRU sector in line with the current constitution.

Resolved:

a)      Schools Forum AGREED the draft constitution.

b)      Schools Forum AGREED TO SEEK representatives from the Primary Academy, Secondary Academy (Upper and Grammar), Maintained Nursery and Maintained PRU sector in line with the current constitution.

A verbal update to be provided by Ms J Cochrane, Chairman of the Schools Forum Funding Group.

There was no update required.

To be presented by Ms E Williams, Head of Finance (Children’s Services)- Buckinghamshire Council.

Ms E Williams, Head of Finance (Children’s Services)- Buckinghamshire Council gave an overview of the report provided.

Recommendations:

Schools Forum is asked to note the revenue budget monitoring forecast at the end of October (Period 7)

Resolved:

Schools Forum NOTED the revenue budget monitoring forecast at the end of October (Period 7)

To be presented by Ms E Williams, Head of Finance (Children’s Services) and Mr J Carter, Schools Management Accountant-Buckinghamshire Council.

Ms E Williams, Head of Finance (Children’s Services)- Buckinghamshire Council gave an overview of the report provided.

Recommendations:

Schools Forum is asked to:

a)      To note the information set out in the report, including the accompanying appendices, showing indicative allocations for 2023-24. Note that modelling is based on October 2021 census data. Final DSG allocations are due in December 2022 and will be updated for October 2022 census data.

b)      To note the announcement made as part of the Autumn budget, we await the guidance around how this money will be distributed and how it will affect the funding formula. As above all modelling is based on the indicative allocations published in July 2022.

c)      To note the updated modelling for the Central Schools Services Block and the increased allocation for the High Needs Block for 2023-24.

d)      To agree to the disapplication request regarding the exceptional rent factor.

Resolved:

Schools Forum:

a)      NOTED the information set out in the report, including the accompanying appendices, showing indicative allocations for 2023-24. Note that modelling is based on October 2021 census data. Final DSG allocations are due in December 2022 and will be updated for October 2022 census data.

b)      NOTED the announcement made as part of the Autumn budget, we await the guidance around how this money will be distributed and how it will affect the funding formula. As above all modelling is based on the indicative allocations published in July 2022.

c)      NOTED the updated modelling for the Central Schools Services Block and the increased allocation for the High Needs Block for 2023-24.

d)      AGREED to the disapplication request regarding the exceptional rent factor

To be presented by the Chairman of Maintained Schools Committee.

Ms E Williams, Head of Finance (Children’s Services)- Buckinghamshire Council gave an overview of the report provided.

Recommendations:

To consider and agree the proposals for de-delegation in 2023-24 based on the recommendations of the Maintained Schools Committee.

Resolved:

Schools Forum CONSIDERED and AGREED the proposals for de-delegation in 2023-24 based on the recommendations of the Maintained Schools Committee as below:

3.1. It is recommended that de-delegation for “existing” de-delegated services across primary and secondary schools should be as follows:

·       Contingency fund for schools in deficit - It is recommended that there is no de[1]delegation in 2023-24 due to the amount that has been rolled forward from previous years. This is to be reviewed on an annual basis- FOR

·       Contingency for deficits of closing schools – it is recommended that there is no de-delegation in 2023-24 and that this should be reviewed on an annual basis- FOR

·       Trade union facilities – It is recommended that there is no de-delegation in 2023-24 due to the amount that has been rolled forward from previous years. This is to be reviewed on an annual basis- FOR

·       Supply cover for small schools – it is recommended that there is no de[1]delegation in 2023-24 and that this should be reviewed on an annual basis. This is due to the amounts rolled forward from previous years- FOR

4.1. It is recommended that de-delegation for former ESG funded services is as follows:

·       Finance support for schools in financial difficulties – £2.75 per pupil primary and secondary/ £10 per place Special and PRU- FOR

·       Educational Visits Service - £1 per pupil for primary and secondary/ £4 per pupil Special and PRU- FOR

To be presented by Mr G Drawmer, Head of Achievement and Learning- Buckinghamshire Council.

Mr G Drawmer, Head of Achievement & Learning- Buckinghamshire Council gave an overview of the report provided.

Recommendation:

To agree the proposed de-delegation for School Improvement activity at a rate of £2.40 per pupil in 2023-23.

Resolved:

Schools Forum AGREED the proposed de-delegation for School Improvement activity at a rate of £2.40 per pupil in 2023-23.

To be presented by Ms E Williams- Head of Finance (CYP) and Mr S James- Director for Education, Buckinghamshire Council

Ms E Williams, Head of Finance (Children’s Services)- Buckinghamshire Council gave an overview of the report provided.

Recommendations:

To note the priorities and work of the DSG Expenditure Review Group since the last Schools Forum meeting.

Resolved:

Schools Forum NOTED the priorities and work of the DSG Expenditure Review Group since the last Schools Forum meeting.

To be presented by Ms E Williams, Head of Finance (Children’s Services)- Buckinghamshire Council.

Ms E Williams, Head of Finance (Children’s Services)- Buckinghamshire Council gave an overview of the report provided.

Recommendations:

Schools Forum is asked to agree to apply for a disapplication to the special school Minimum Funding Guarantee (MFG) for 2023-24.

Resolved:

Schools Forum AGREED to apply for a disapplication to the special school Minimum Funding Guarantee (MFG) for 2023-24.

12 FOR

1 AGAINST

To be presented by Ms E Williams, Head of Finance (Children’s Services)- Buckinghamshire Council.

Recommendations:

Schools Forum is asked to:

a)      Confirm the membership and Chairman of the Schools Specific Contingency Panel.

b)      Approve the proposed changes to the Terms of Reference for implementation in the 2022-23 financial year.

Resolved:

Schools Forum:

a)      CONFIRMED the membership and Chairman of the Schools Specific Contingency Panel.

Panel-  Ms G Bull

Mrs E Stewart- Chairman

Ms J Freeman

Mr K Shabbir

b)      APPROVED the proposed changes to the Terms of Reference for implementation in the 2022-23 financial year.

To resolve that under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item(s) of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Act.

Paragraph 3

Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular  person (including the authority holding that information)

To be presented by Ms J Whitely-Head of HR Consultancy, Policy and Reward and Ms J Pead- Policy & Reward Consultant, Buckinghamshire Council.

There were no items of AOB.

Tuesday 17 January 2023- 1.30pm

The Oculus, The Gateway, Aylesbury.

Tuesday 17 January 2023- 1.30pm

The Oculus, Buckinghamshire Council, Gatehouse Road, Aylesbury HP19 8FF