Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence from members.  Richard Webb had sent his apologies for the meeting as he was unwell. 

There were no declarations of interest.

Purpose

The purpose of the report is to set out the details of the new religious education syllabus 'Living Difference III and seek Cabinet Member approval to formally adopt the syllabus.

RECOMMENDED the Cabinet Member for Education formally adopts the new religious education syllabus (Living Difference III) for Portsmouth.

(TAKE IN REPORT)

Councillor Young advised that he would be revising the order of the agenda today and would be considering agenda item 6 first. 

Mike Stoneman, Deputy Director of Children's Services - Education introduced the report. 

The Cabinet Member felt that this was a good syllabus and was a continuation of work already established. Councillor Horton added that she had attended the launch event last week, and had been very impressed with the presentation and the syllabus. 

DECISION: The Cabinet Member formally adopted the new religious education syllabus (Living Difference III) for Portsmouth.

Purpose of report

To inform the Cabinet Member of the projected revenue cash limit expenditure within the portfolio cash limit and capital programme for the current financial year 2016-17. This report sets out the budget position and contributing factors to the projected overspend within the portfolio as at the end of September 2016.

RECOMMENDED

That the Cabinet Member notes the Education Portfolio forecast revenue and capital budget positions, at the end of September 2016 together with the variance and pressure explanations.

(TAKE IN REPORT)

Graham Smith, Group Accountant introduced the report. 

DECISION: The Cabinet Member noted the Education Portfolio forecast revenue and capital budget positions, at the end of September 2016 together with the variance and pressure explanations.

Purpose of report

The main purpose of the report is to inform the Cabinet Member of the progress being made towards the implementation of changes to the school revenue funding arrangements for 2017-18 and to seek the necessary approvals at this stage.

RECOMMENDED that the Cabinet Member

(1)  Agree to the de-delegation of the following budgets for central administration in 2017-18 and note the proposed rates for de-delegation (as shown at paragraph 4.2), which will be finally agreed in January:

             i.         Behaviour Support - Primary Only

(2)  Agree the proposed change to the de-delegation of union duties, with de-delegation for the period April 17 to August 17 and the introduction to a traded service arrangement from 1 September 2017; and note the proposed transfer arrangements.

(3)  Note the potential impact on the funding arrangements for Secondary Schools of the opening of the University Technical College (due to open in September 2017).

(4)  Agree the high needs place numbers for maintained and academy special schools, resource units and alternative provision (AP) settings for the academic year 2017-18 as set out in the report.

(TAKE IN REPORT)

The report was introduced by Alison Egerton, Group Accountant. She advised that under the inclusion centres section of the report there was an error in the table for Devonshire school - the agreed commissioned places 2017-18 academic year should read 8 (not 9). She drew attention to paragraph 7.2 in the report regarding to the two minimum funding guarantee (MFG) disapplication requests relating to the variation of primary pupil numbers at Mayfield School and advised that both of these had now been accepted by the DfE.

Councillor Young said he was concerned regarding the request from the Harbour School to increase their element 3 Top up rate by £2,000 per annum per pupil.  Alison Jeffery explained that their academy trust felt that their top up is too low and they require additional funding.  Officers are considering the implications of this request and this will require consultation with schools and approval from the Cabinet Member and endorsement from the Schools Forum. 

In response to questions the following matters were clarified:

·         The government's announcement the previous day regarding the funding formula  will provide funding to carry out a strategic re-design of high needs spend and it will be interesting to see the outcome of this.

The Cabinet Member thanked officers for their hard work on preparing this. 


DECISIONS: the Cabinet Member:

(1)  Agreed to the de-delegation of the following budgets for central administration in 2017-18 and noted the proposed rates for de-delegation (as shown at paragraph 4.2), which will be finally agreed in January:

                                                      i.        Behaviour Support - Primary Only

(2)  Agreed the proposed change to the de-delegation of union duties, with de-delegation for the period April 17 to August 17 and the introduction to a traded service arrangement from 1 September 2017; and noted the proposed transfer arrangements.

(3)  Noted the potential impact on the funding arrangements for Secondary Schools of the opening of the University Technical College (due to open in September 2017).

(4)  Agreed the high needs place numbers for maintained and academy special schools, resource units and alternative provision (AP) settings for the academic year 2017-18 as set out in the report.

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 2016-17 as at the end of September 2016. 

RECOMMENDED that the Cabinet Member:

(1)  Notes the forecast year-end budget position for the Dedicated Schools Grant as at the end 30^th September 2016, together with the associated explanations contained within this report.

(2)  Approves the increase to the budget for 3&4 year olds in PVI settings and the DSG grant to reflect the increased numbers in the January 2016 Census, as detailed in paragraph 4.13.

(TAKE IN REPORT)

The report was introduced by Alison Egerton, Group Accountant.

Councillor Young thanked officers for their work in preparing this and was pleased that there is a plan in place to address the costs of the out of city placements.   

DECISIONS: the Cabinet Member:

(1)  Noted the forecast year-end budget position for the Dedicated Schools Grant as at the end 30^th September 2016, together with the associated explanations contained within the report.

(2)  Approved the increase to the budget for 3&4 year olds in PVI settings and the DSG grant to reflect the increased numbers in the January 2016 Census, as detailed in paragraph 4.13.