Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence had been received from Councillor Suzy Horton, Cabinet Member for Children Families and Education.  Councillor Steve Pitt, Leader of the Council had delegated the decision-making powers for the Children, Families & Education portfolio to himself in respect of the special decision meeting on 16 December 2024.  This delegation commenced at the start of the meeting and ceased at its close.

During Item 4 - Dedicated Schools Grant 2024-25 Quarter 2 Budget Monitoring - Councillor Hannah Brent declared an interest as The City of Portsmouth College was mentioned by the presenting officer. 

Purpose

The purpose of this report is to provide the Cabinet Member with an update on the latest developments in respect of the future schools revenue funding arrangements for the financial year 2025-26. 

RECOMMENDED that the Cabinet Member:

1)    Notes the Department for Education's proposed changes to school revenue funding arrangements for 2025-26, as set out in this report.

2)    Approves the proposals for implementing the local funding formula arrangements as set out in this report to:

·       Implement the National Funding Formula rates for both primary and secondary schools in 2025-26 as set out in Appendix 1.

·       Implement a minimum funding guarantee (MFG) at the top of the range published by the DfE, subject to affordability, for 2025-26 as set out in paragraph 5.1.

·       The methods of managing affordability as set out in paragraphs 5.21 to 5.2.

3)    Endorses the Growth Fund values set out in paragraph 5.11 and the criteria as set out in Appendix 2 and the proposed revision in paragraph 5.13 of the report.

4)    Notes the de-delegation of funding to support the Education Functions as set out in Section 7 of the report.

Mike Stoneman, Deputy Director Children's Services (Education), introduced the report and informed Members that it provides an update on the latest developments in respect of Portsmouth schools' revenue funding arrangements for the financial year 2025-26. He added that formalising school funding arrangements this year has been challenging due to delays in receiving information from the government due to the general election and updates to the Policy Document for schools which was not published until 6 November 2024.  The Local Authority has consulted schools in relation to the Policy Document including the 2025-26 formula factors along with the proposed methods of managing overall affordability, the notional SEND budget, the Growth Fund and the maintained schools' de-delegation for Education functions.  He informed Members that the Department for Education will provide further information about the 2025-26 budget for the High Needs Block and the Early Years Block later in December 2024 and an update will be brought to Schools' Forum and the Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education in January 2025.

Members' Comments

Councillor Pitt thanked officers for the report.  He commented that it was not ideal to be working from a Policy Document rather than detailed budget announcements and noted that the Local Authority had, nonetheless, to meet funding deadlines. 

DECISIONS - the Leader of the Council:

a)    Noted the Department for Education's proposed changes to school revenue funding arrangements for 2025-26, as set out in this report.

b)    Approved the proposals for implementing the local funding formula arrangements as set out in this report to:

·       Implement the National Funding Formula rates for both primary and secondary schools in 2025-26 as set out in Appendix 1.

·       Implement a minimum funding guarantee (MFG) at the top of the range published by the DfE, subject to affordability, for 2025-26 as set out in paragraph 5.19.

·       The methods of managing affordability as set out in paragraphs 5.21 to 5.24 of the report.

c)    Endorsed the Growth Fund values set out in paragraph 5.11 and the criteria as set out in Appendix 2 and the proposed revision in paragraph 5.13 of the report.

d)    Noted the de-delegation of funding to support the Education Functions as set out in Section 7 of the report.

Purpose

The purpose of this report is to inform Cabinet Member of the projected revenue expenditure of the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) for the current financial year 2024-25 as at the end of September 2024.

RECOMMENDED that the Cabinet Member notes the forecast year end budget position for the Dedicated Schools Grant as at 30 September 2024, together with the associated explanations contained within this report.

Mike Stoneman, Deputy Director Children's Services (Education), introduced the report and explained that it sets out the projected revenue expenditure of the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) for the current financial year 2024-25 as at the end of September 2024.  He added that overall, the budget is forecast to be overspent by £317,000; the High Needs Block by £221,500 for the reasons set out in Table 2 of the report; a forecasted overspend on Special Schools due to the completion of several Education Health Care Plans; and discussions relating to high needs funding rates for The City of Portsmouth College which are being reviewed following a 10 period of no change.  The Deputy Director noted that the Early Years Block had been adjusted in July 2024 to reflect changes in pupil numbers as at the January 2024 census and Early Years Budgets have been updated to reflect these changes.           

DECISION - the Leader of the Council noted the forecast year end budget position for the Dedicated Schools Grant as at 30 September 2024, together with the associated explanations contained within this report.