Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Alison Jeffery, Director of Children, Families and Education. 

Councillor Suzy Horton declared a personal interest as she is Vice Chair of governors at Craneswater Junior School.

Purpose of report

To inform the Cabinet Member of the projected revenue expenditure within the portfolio cash limit and capital programme for the current financial year 2017-18. This report sets out the budget position and contributing factors to the projected spend within the portfolio as at the end of June 2017.

RECOMMENDED that the Cabinet Member notes the Education Portfolio forecast revenue and capital budget positions, as at the end of June 2017, together with the variance and pressure explanations.

The report was introduced by Richard Webb, Finance Manager.

DECISION: The Cabinet Member noted the Education portfolio forecast revenue and capital budget positions as at end of June 2017, together with the variance and pressure explanations.

Purpose of report

(1)  The purpose of this report is to provide an update on the progress of:

·                     urgent school condition projects

·                     secondary school sufficiency schemes aimed at increasing secondary school place capacity within the City.

(2)  The quarterly budget monitoring report, (also on this agenda) contains information in relation the financial position of the education capital programme.

RECOMMENDED that the Cabinet Member note the progress on the school modernisation "urgent condition" projects and the secondary school sufficiency projects (as set out in the report and in Appendix A).

The report was introduced by Caroline Corcoran, Head of Sufficiency, Participation and Resources.  In response to a question about capital bids Richard Webb explained that these would be reviewed as part of the capital budget process and a final decision would be included within capital budget presented in February 2018.

DECISION: the Cabinet Member noted the progress on the school modernisation "urgent condition" projects and the secondary school sufficiency projects as set out in the report and appendix A. 

Purpose of report

To seek approval to commence the statutory process to change the age range of Cottage Grove Primary School to 2 to 11 years from 3 to 11 years to allow the school to provide early education for 2 year old children. 

RECOMMENDED that the Cabinet Member: authorise the Director for Children’s Services to proceed to the representation stage of the statutory process by publishing a  proposal to change the age range of Cottage Grove Primary school to 2  to 11 years.

The report was introduced by Caroline Corcoran, Head of Sufficiency, Participation and Resources.  

DECISION: the Cabinet Member authorised the Director for Children's Services to proceed to the representation stage of the statutory process by publishing a proposal to change the age range of Cottage Grove Primary School to 2 to 11 years.

Purpose of report

To inform the Cabinet Member for Education of the projected revenue expenditure within the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) for the current financial year 2017-18 as at the end of June 2017. 

RECOMMENDED that the Cabinet Member:

(1)  Notes the forecast year-end budget position for the Dedicated Schools Grant as at the end 30^th June 2017, together with the associated explanations contained within this report.

(2)  Agrees to delegate authority to the Section 151 officer to make the necessary adjustments to Dedicated Schools Grant budgets throughout the year, to reflect the conversion of schools to academy status.

The report was introduced by Alison Egerton, Group Accountant.

DECISIONS : the Cabinet Member

(1)  Noted the forecast year-end budget position for the Dedicated Schools Grant as at the end 30^th June 2017, together with the associated explanations contained within the report;

(2)  Agreed to delegate authority to the Section 151 officer to make the necessary adjustments to Dedicated Schools Grant budgets throughout the year, to reflect the conversion of schools to academy status.

Purpose of report

This purpose of this report is to provide the Cabinet Member with an update on the latest developments in respect of the future school revenue funding arrangements for 2018-19 onwards.

RECOMMENDED that the Cabinet Member:

a.         Note the Department for Education's proposed changes to the school revenue funding arrangements for 2018 to 2019 and 2019 to 2020, as set out in sections 4 and 5.

b.        Note that full national funding formula for 2018 to 2019 and 2019 to 2020 will be confirmed by the Department for Education in September alongside the responses to the national funding formula consultations.

c.         Note that the Local Authority level allocation for 2018 to 2019 for the schools, central school services and high needs blocks will also be published by the Department for Education in September. Final allocations will follow as usual in December, on the basis of pupil numbers recorded in the October census.

d.        Endorse the proposals for implementing the funding formula arrangements locally as set out in section 6.

The report was introduced by Richard Webb, Finance Manager. 

In response to questions Richard advised that the Department for Education had published further details regarding the national funding formula this afternoon (14 September). The finance team will now be reviewing this information and undertaking the necessary financial modelling. As outlined within the report, further information on the funding arrangements, together with feedback on phase one of the local consultation will be brought back to the October Portfolio meeting.

DECISIONS: the Cabinet Member

(1)  Noted the Department for Education's proposed changes to the school revenue funding arrangements for 2018 to 2019 and 2019 to 2020, as set out in sections 4 and 5 of the report. 

(2)  Noted that the full national funding formula for 2018 to 2019 and 2019 to 2020 will be confirmed by the Department for Education in September alongside the responses to the national funding formula consultations.

(3)  Noted that the Local Authority level allocation for 2018 to 2019 for the schools, central school services and high needs blocks will also be published by the Department for Education in September.  Final allocations will follow as usual in December, on the basis of pupil numbers recorded in the October census.

(4)  Endorsed the proposals for implementing the funding formula arrangements locally as set out in section 6 of the report.

Purpose of report

(1)  To inform the Cabinet Member for Education of the work that has been undertaken to revise the banding descriptors and the associated financial values (Element 3 Top-up funding) for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) attending both maintained and Academy Special Schools in the City.

(2)  To seek approval to implement the new banding descriptors and associated financial values for pupils starting school in September 2017 and for pupils who are reassessed as part of the Annual review process.

RECOMMENDED that the Cabinet Member:

a.  Approves the introduction of the new banding descriptors for new pupils as set out in Appendix 1 from the start of the new academic year in September 2017

b.  Approves the Element 3 Top-up funding rates allocated to the new banding descriptors as set out in Appendix 2 from the start of the new academic year in September 2017 and for the financial year 2018-19.

c.  Approves the Element 3 top-up rates for 2018-19 as set out in Appendix 3 for those pupils continuing at the Special Schools and funded via the current A to H banding framework.

d.  Note that the financial impact of the proposed changes will continue to be monitored both centrally and at a school level; and that both Redwood Park and Willows school funding will be reviewed in Summer 2018 due to the changing complexities of the children in these schools.

The report was introduced by Julia Katherine, Head of Inclusion.  She explained that the current system has been in place for some time, the banding descriptors are out of date and model is overly complicated with 8 funding bands for each school (9 for Mary Rose and The Harbour School).  Under the new model the number of bands would be reduced to 3 (4 bands for Mary Rose and The Harbour School).  There would be gradual implementation of the new model to provide greater predictability for schools in managing their budgets. This paper will be taken to the Schools Forum next week for endorsement.   In response to a question Julia said that all local authorities have their own version of the banded funding model for special schools in place. 

Richard Webb added that officers will continue to monitor the financial implications of these changes through the budget monitoring processes, as highlighted within the report. 

DECISIONS: the Cabinet Member

(1)   Approved the introduction of the new banding descriptors for new pupils as set out in Appendix 1 from the start of the new academic year in September 2017

(2)  Approved the Element 3 Top-up funding rates allocated to the new banding descriptors as set out in Appendix 2 from the start of the new academic year in September 2017 and for the financial year 2018-19.

(3)  Approved the Element 3 top-up rates for 2018-19 as set out in Appendix 3 for those pupils continuing at the Special Schools and funded via the current A to H banding framework.

(4)  Noted that the financial impact of the proposed changes will continue to be monitored both centrally and at a school level; and that both Redwood Park and Willows school funding will be reviewed in Summer 2018 due to the changing complexities of the children in these schools.