(TAKE IN REPORT)
The report was introduced by Richard Webb, Finance Manager.
Richard said that the DfE's illustrative funding examples for Portsmouth, showed an overall increase in funding for the city under the proposed funding arrangements. However there was some concern that the proposed distribution of the deprivation funding is creating a reduction in funding for the most deprived schools in the city.. The report would be considered by the Schools Forum on Wednesday 15th February.
Richard also advised that the further investigation into the proposed funding floor protection mechanism is required and it is unclear as to how long it will remain in place. Alison Jeffery said that Portsmouth as a whole would benefit from the proposed national formula arrangements, although our concerns need to be expressed in relation to the deprivation funding proposals. The council's response to the DfE should therefore need to highlight these points more clearly.
Councillor Young felt that
recommendation be needed to be amended to ensure that the response
to the consultation specifically highlighted the local concerns
regarding the proposed distribution and weighting of the individual
deprivation funding factors and the impact on individual schools;
whilst recognising that the illustrative DfE examples show that overall Portsmouth would
benefit from the proposed national formula arrangements.
DECISIONS:
a. Noted the Department for Education's proposed changes to the school funding arrangements and the potential impact of these changes, as set out within this report; and in particular that:
2018-19
i. 2018-19 will be a transitional year. Funding to Local Authorities will be allocated on a national formula basis, but Local Authorities will continue to distribute funding to schools based on a local formula.
ii. The 'Schools Block' funding will be ring-fenced within the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG).
iii. The creation of a new 'Central Schools Services Block' which will include the 'retained duties' element of the Education Services Grant (ESG).
iv. The introduction in 2018-19 of a formulaic method for distributing High Needs funding from central to local government.
v. The mechanism for allocating place funding to Resourced Units will be changing.
vi. The proposed flexibility for local authorities to transfer funds, from the funding schools are due to receive through the schools formula to their high needs budget
2019-20
vii. The implementation of a single National Funding Formula from 2019-20 (at a school level), with funding being passed directly by the Education Funding Agency.
b. Agreed the proposed draft submission of the response to stage 2, of the Department for Education's consultation, as shown at Appendix 1; subject to finalisation of the responses indicated and to specifically highlight the local concerns regarding the proposed distribution and weighting of the individual deprivation funding factors and the impact on individual schools; whilst recognising that the illustrative DfE examples show that overall Portsmouth would benefit from the proposed national formula arrangements.