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Agenda and minutes

Agenda and minutes

Venue: The Executive Meeting Room - Third Floor, The Guildhall, Portsmouth. View directions

Contact: David Penrose 02392 834870  Email: david.penrose@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

Webcast: View the webcast

Media

Items
No. Item

38.

Apologies for Absence

To receive any apologies for absence.

Minutes:

There were no apologies.

39.

Declarations of Interests

To note any declarations of interest.

Minutes:

Councillor Coles declared a non-prejudicial personal interest as a member of the Local Advisor Board of Penhale Infant School (thinking Schools Academy Trust).

 

Councillor Horton declared a non-prejudicial personal interest as Vice Chair of Governors of Craneswater Junior School.

40.

Education Budget Monitoring Report for the 2nd Quarter 2018-19 pdf icon PDF 130 KB

Purpose

 

To inform the Cabinet Member of the projected financial position for the portfolio revenue cash limit and capital programme for the current financial year 2018-19. This report sets out the budget position and contributing factors to the projected spend within the portfolio as at the end of September 2018.

 

Recommendation

 

That the Cabinet Member notes the Education Portfolio forecast revenue and capital budget positions, as at the end of September 2018, together with the variance and pressure explanations.

Minutes:

The report was introduced by Beverley Pennekett, Finance Manager. She highlighted that the current forecast was for the total portfolio spending to be £248k in excess of the revenue budget provision. Expected pressures on school transport were partially offset by staffing savings, staff turnover and a small operational underspend. The capital programme was currently forecasting a small underspend on the approved capital budget of £86.9m, although this would be reallocated to other priority schemes as the need arose.

 

Decision: The Cabinet Member noted the report.

41.

DSG budget monitoring report for 2nd Quarter 2018-19 pdf icon PDF 243 KB

Purpose

 

To inform the Cabinet Member of the projected revenue expenditure of the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) for the current financial year 2018-19 as at the end of September 2018.

 

Recommendations

 

That the Cabinet Member:

 

1)    Notes the forecast year-end budget position for the Dedicated Schools Grant as at 30 September 2018, together with the associated explanations contained within this report.

 

2)    Approves the necessary adjustments to Dedicated Schools Grant to reflect:

 

·           Early year's budgets and DSG income budget, to reflect the adjustment in grant funding due to pupil number changes, as set out in paragraphs 3.30 and 3.31.

 

·           An adjustment to the DSG to reflect the decision by the Secretary of State to approve the transfer of £1.0m to capital to support the development of Redwood Park School.

 

·           An adjustment to the DSG to reflect the decision to support The Harbour School in May 2018.

Minutes:

The report was introduced by Beverley Pennekett, Finance Manager. She said that the report reflected the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) allocation, and it was suggested that the budget be adjusted as per the report's recommendations.

 

Table 1 of the report outlined the breakdown of the  projected overspend of £573k.  A  High Needs strategy had been put in place in October to deal with the issues around the financial pressures in this area. 

 

DECISION: The Cabinet Member:

 

1)         Noted the forecast year-end budget position for the DSG as at 30 September 2018, together with the associated explanations contained within this report.

 

2)         Approved the necessary adjustments to the DSG to reflect:

 

·         Early year's budgets and DSG income budget, to reflect the adjustment in grant funding due to pupil number changes, as set out in paragraphs 3.30 and 3.31.

 

·         An adjustment to the DSG to reflect the decision by the Secretary of State to approve the transfer of £1.0m to capital to support the development of Redwood Park School.

 

·         An adjustment to the DSG to reflect the decision to support The Harbour School in May 2018.

42.

School Modernisation Programme for the 2nd Quarter pdf icon PDF 135 KB

Purpose of report

 

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

·           Special school sufficiency schemes aimed at ensuring that schools can take children with more complex SEND.

 

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

 

Recommendations

 

That the Cabinet Member notes 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).

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Caroline Corcoran, Head of Sufficiency, Participation and Resources - Education Service, introduced the report.  She reported that three urgent condition projects from the 2017-18 programme had been completed and one "live" condition project which remained from the 2017-18 programme, which was being completed in phases to minimise disruption to the school. The final end date was expected to be March 2019.

 

In response to a question, she said that a feasibility study had been undertaken at Copnor Primary in order to replace the boiler. The existing gas fired heating system was failing and had reached the end of its working life. The work could not be undertaken immediately, as there were four boilers in the school, with issues associated with the pipework.  Temporary heating was being provided, and the works should be finished by the February half term.

 

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 in Appendix A)

43.

Change of age range for Portsdown Primary School - outcome of statutory consultation pdf icon PDF 190 KB

Purpose

 

This report sets out the outcome of the statutory consultation which was undertaken between 17th September 2018 and 14th October 2018 on the proposal to change the age range of Portsdown Primary School.

 

Recommendations

 

That the Cabinet Member:

 

     Consider the response to the statutory consultation carried out on the proposal to change the age range of Portsdown Primary School.

 

     Authorise the Director for Children, Families and Education to implement the proposal so that Portsdown Primary School becomes a school for pupils aged 4 to 11 years of age from 1st December 2018.

Minutes:

Caroline Corcoran, Head of Sufficiency, Participation & Resources, Education Service presented the report.  She said that the structural change would simplify the administration of the provision offered by the school and help to make the provision more sustainable, flexible and adaptable in the future.

 

DECISION:  the Cabinet Member

 

·         Consider the response to the statutory consultation carried out on the proposal to change the age range of Portsdown Primary School

 

·         Authorised the Director for Children, Families and Education to implement the proposal so that Portsdown Primary School becomes a school for pupils aged 4 to 11 years of age from 1st December 2018.

44.

School Funding Arrangements 2019-20 pdf icon PDF 334 KB

Purpose of report

 

To provide an update on progress regarding the implementation of the school revenue funding arrangements for 2019-20 and to seek the necessary approvals at this stage.

 

Recommendation

 

That the Cabinet Member:

 

Approve the proposals for implementing the funding formula arrangements locally as set out in this report; in particular:

 

·         To amend the percentage of funding allocated to notional Special Educational Needs (SEN) as set out in paragraph 4.3;

 

·         The disapplication request as set out in paragraph 5.3.

 

Minutes:

The report was introduced by Beverley Pennekett, Finance Manager, and was designed to provide an update on progress regarding the implementation of the school revenue funding arrangements for 2019-20.  The decisions included the percentage of unit values to be identified as the notional Special Educational Needs (SEN) budget and a disapplication request. 

 

The unit values within Portsmouth's funding formula were largely similar to national averages, but a significantly lower proportion of overall funding was recognised as being within the notional SEN budget.  Redefining the notional SEN budget would not impact in any way upon a school's funding; nevertheless it was proposed to amend the proportion of funding attached to the notional SEN budget as set out in the report, in order to bring Portsmouth's values more closely in line with national averages.

 

The Finance Manager went on to say that local authorities could submit disapplication requests to the ESFA, where strict adherence to the legislation as set out in the School and Early Years Finance (England) regulations would generate perverse results for specific schools. Two disapplication requests had already been submitted to the ESFA in respect of the operation of the minimum funding guarantee (MFG), both of which had been endorsed by the Cabinet Member and Schools Forum.  A further request has now been submitted, in respect of the operation of the Minimum Funding Level (MFL) for Mayfield school.

 

DECISION: The Cabinet Member approved the proposals for implementing the funding formula arrangements locally as set out in the report; in particular:

 

·                     To amend the percentage of funding allocated to notional Special        Educational Needs (SEN) as set out in paragraph 4.3;

 

·                     The disapplication request as set out in paragraph 5.3.