Salford Schools Forum
SALFORD SCHOOLS FORUM
3 JULY 2013
SALFORD SCHOOLS FORUM
3 July 2013
Meeting commenced:4.15 p.m.
“ ended:5.35 p.m.
PRESENT:School Members
Steve Aveyard- Academy Schools
Patrick Ottley O’Connor
Drew Povey - Secondary School Headteachers
Phillip Harte
Brian Pearson - Secondary School Governors
Sheila Hamnett
Joe Bourke - Primary School Headteachers/Representative
Andrew Sargeant - Primary School
Kenneth Hickman Governors
Paula Howe
Judith Elderkin
Non-School Members
Jackie Moores - 14/19 Partnership
Debbie Ramsay - Pupil Referral Units
Alex Klein - Faith Communities
Christopher Gray - Early Years Partnership
Officers
Jon Stonehouse - Deputy Director
Paula Summersfield - Principal Group Accountant
Debbie Fulton - Management Accountant – Schools
Carole Chapman - Senior Democratic Services Advisor
Visitor
Beverley Thompson - Education Funding Agency
Prior to the meeting starting, Beverley Thompson from the Education Funding Agency (EFA) introduced herself to members and explained the reason why she was attending. A rolling programme is in place for representatives from the EFA to visit Schools Forums across the country as observers in order to ensure that the necessary regulations are in place and that forums are operating effectively.
1.Apologies for Absence
Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Cheryl Fox, Martin Hanbury, Joe Langley and Ann McQuirk.
2.membership of forum
Details of the current membership were provided for information.
It was noted that the Forum currently has a full membership.
RESOLVED: THAT the information provided is noted
3.FORUM RESOLUTIONS - UPDATE
An update report was submitted providing details of the resolutions made by the Salford Schools Forum.
RESOLVED:THAT(1) the report be noted
4.MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
RESOLVED:THAT the minutes of the meeting held on 6 March 2013, were approved as a correct record, subject to the amendments listed below.
RESOLVED: THAT the minutes of the meeting held on 8 May 2013, to discuss the Growth Fund, were approved as a correct record.
Members thanked the Accountants for the training session held on 22 May 2013, which they found both useful and informative.
RESOLVED: THAT the minutes of the Exceptional Growth Funding Panel meeting held on 23 May 2013 were approved as a correct record.
5.MATTERS ARISING
Meeting held on 6 March 2013
Item 6 - Primary Schools Provision Programme 2013-18
The number of additional children expected in 2013 which was quoted as being 3013 was queried. It was agreed that the figure would be checked and an update provided at the next meeting.
Item 8 – School Funding, Primary: Secondary Ratios
The word ‘slightly’ stated in the second bullet point should be changed to read substantially.
RESOLVED: THAT the above mentioned amendments are approved
Growth Fund Meeting held on 8 May 2013
Members stated there is a need to look at the growth fund trigger as the amounts had increased, therefore it was agreed that this would be looked at by the Accountancy Team during summer and proposals brought back to the next meeting.
6. school balances report
Paula Summersfield presented this report which provided information with regard to the current position on school balances and the actions being taken to assist and challenge schools.
Headlines from the report were as follows:-
- There are now only 6 schools with a deficit budget
- No additional schools are in deficit
- Surplus budgets are being reviewed
- A formal system will be introduced to monitor and manage the level of surplus balances.
- A formal process of reporting surplus balances will be considered
RESOLVED: THAT the information provided is noted.
7. dsg outturn report 2012-13
Paula Summersfield presented this report that requested Schools Forum to note the current financial position of the dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) and the proposed actions to review the supply cover criteria.
The report showed that:-
- The total under spend carried forward from 2012-13 on the Non Delegated Schools Budget (NDSB) will be allocated to the growth fund
- The level of overspending has reduced and there should be sufficient budget to fund historic areas of overspending from within the 2013-14 budgets with the exception of supply cover
- Criteria for the supply cover fund needs to be reviewed
- Progress made on the SEN strategy has resulted in temporary savings in the areas of SEN, Inclusion and EMTAS.
During subsequent discussions it was agreed that further information in relation to the supply cover fund would be brought back to the next meeting.
Members asked that their thanks be extended to Sue Woodgate and her team for the work undertaken in relation to SEN and the savings achieved.
RESOLVED: THAT (1) the information provided is noted
THAT (2) Forum members wished to extend their thanks to Sue Woodgate and her team.
8. school formula review 2014-15
Debbie Fulton presented this report which identified the schools funding reform changes for the financial year 2014-15 and how they affect Salford’s local schools funding formula. It also noted the considerations to be made by Schools Forum with a timescale of key dates.
During discussions the following points were noted:-
- Mobility – it was agreed there may be a need to look at the impact on the school and review this element of the funding
- Lump Sum – members agreed this should be included on the agenda of the next meeting for discussion
- High Needs – work will be completed over the summer to formalise criteria
- High Needs Post 16 – this area is currently unknown and the change in the funding channel is uncertain
- Delegation –members agreed this should come back to a meeting in the autumn for further discussion
- Timescales – in order to meet the deadlines specified it was agreed that a n additional meeting would be arranged for Wednesday 25th September
RESOLVED: THAT the report is accepted.
9. scheme of delegation – updates for approval
Members were provided with information that outlined and explained the changes to the DfE guidance on local authority schemes for financing schools, effective from 1st April 2013.
Approval was requested to update the scheme of delegation to take account of the revisions.
Members voted in favour, therefore it was agreed that the following the update the new version will be re published and schools notified accordingly.
RESOLVED: THAT the scheme of delegation will be updated to reflect the revisions and will then be republished. Schools will be notified accordingly.
10. Any other business
None submitted.
10. DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting will be arranged for Wednesday 25th September at 4.15pm.