Agenda and minutes

Councillor Ryan Brent, Cabinet Member for Children and Families explained that he was chairing the meeting today by appointment of the Leader on behalf of Councillor Hannah Hockaday as she was not able to be present at the meeting today.

Councillor Brent added that he had been fully briefed by Councillor Hockaday on the reports and recommendations for the meeting today.

Councillor Ryan Brent declared a personal interest in that he is employed by Portsmouth College and is also a governor at Milton Park Primary and Miltoncross Academy.

Councillor Suzy Horton declared a personal interest as she 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 September 2017.

RECOMMENDED

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

(TAKE IN REPORT)

The report was introduced by Graham Smith, Group Accountant.

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

Purpose of report

(1)  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 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).

(TAKE IN REPORT)

The report was introduced by Caroline Corcoran.

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).

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 2018 to 2019 and to seek the necessary approvals at this stage.

RECOMMENDED that the Cabinet Member:

a)    Approves the proposed changes to the mainstream funding formula factors, as informed by consultation with schools as set out in section 6, specifically:

·                    To adopt the revised growth fund criteria as set out in Appendix 2 of the phase 1 consultation document.

·                    To remove the Looked After Children (LAC) funding factor

·                    To retain the Reception Uplift factor

To calculate initial funding allocations for 2018 to 2019 based on the proposed unit values shown in the table at paragraph 6.16.

·                    To limit the proposed factors whose financial value could be adjusted to maintain overall affordability following the receipt of the October 2017 census data in December 2017 to:

o   Basic Per Pupil Entitlement

o   Prior Attainment

o   Lump Sum

o   Percentage of the financial cap

o   Primary Free School Meal factor

b)   Note that the authority is not proposing to make any changes to High Needs place numbers for Special Schools, Resourced Units and Alternative Provision settings for 2018 to 2019.

c)    Note that the authority is not proposing to make any changes to rates payable to Early Years providers for 2018 to 2019.

d)   Note the MFG disapplication requests set out in paragraph 9.1, which have been endorsed by Schools Forum and submitted to the DfE.

(TAKE IN REPORT)

The report was introduced by Alison Egerton, Group Accountant.  She advised that some of the recommendations in the report went to Schools Forum on 21 November for endorsement and some would be going to the Schools Forum meeting next week. 

In response to a question from Councillor Brent, Ms Egerton said that a high percentage of schools who responded had said they were happy with the proposals.  There had been some queries mostly about how the funding formula worked or specific to individual schools, officers had responded to the schools concerned. 

DECISION: The Cabinet Member:

a) Approved the proposed changes to the mainstream funding formula

factors, as informed by consultation with schools as set out in section

6, specifically:

·         To remove the Looked After Children (LAC) funding factor.

·         To retain the Reception Uplift factor.

·         To calculate initial funding allocations for 2018 to 2019 based on the proposed unit values shown in the table at paragraph 6.16.

·         To limit the proposed factors whose financial value could be adjusted to maintain overall affordability following the receipt of the October 2017 census data in December 2017 to:

oBasic Per Pupil Entitlement

oPrior Attainment

oLump Sum

oPercentage of the financial cap

oPrimary Free School Meal factor

b) Noted that the authority is not proposing to make any changes to High Needs place numbers for Special Schools, Resourced Units and Alternative Provision settings for 2018 to 2019.

c) Noted that the authority is not proposing to make any changes to rates payable to Early Years providers for 2018 to 2019.

d) Noted the MFG disapplication requests set out in paragraph 10.2, as endorsed by Schools Forum and submitted to the DfE.

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 September 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 September 2017, together with the associated explanations contained within this report.

(2)  approves the necessary adjustments to Dedicated Schools Grant early years budgets and DSG income budget, to reflect the changes in grant funding due to pupil number changes.

(TAKE IN REPORT)

The report was introduced by Alison Egerton, Group Accountant. 

DECISION: the Cabinet Member:

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

(2)  approved the necessary adjustments to Dedicated Schools Grant early years budgets and DSG income budget, to reflect the changes in grant funding due to pupil number changes.

Purpose of report

This purpose of this report is to seek approval to commence the statutory process to change the age range of Penhale Infant School and Nursery from 3 - 7 year old pupils to 2 - 7 year old pupils. This will allow the school to provide early education for 2 year old children.          

RECOMMENDED that the Cabinet Member authorises the Director of Children, Families and Education to proceed to the representation stage of the statutory process by publishing a proposal to change the age range of Penhale Infant School and Nursery to 2 - 7 years.

(TAKE IN REPORT)

The report was introduced by Caroline Corcoran, Head of Sufficiency, Participation and Resources. She explained that the outcome of the consultation will be brought back to the March 2018 Education Cabinet meeting. 

Councillor Brent said this was a really good example of where the council are listening to governors and schools around the city.

DECISION: The Cabinet Member authorised the Director of Children, Families and Education to proceed to the representation stage of the statutory process by publishing a proposal to change the age range of Penhale Infant School and Nursery to 2 - 7 years.