Agenda item

Report of the Chief Officer for Children’s Services and County Treasurer (DEF/18/03) attached

DISCUSSION:

(Ms Marder declared an interest in the Growth Fund proposals for Cranbrook by virtue of being the Chief Executive Officer of the Ted Wragg Multi Academy Trust, of which Cranbrook Education Campus was a member - (c)(ii) below and refrained from voting on this matter only).

(Miss Mitchell declared an interest in the Growth Fund proposals for Cranbrook by virtue of being a Headteacher within the Ted Wragg Multi Academy Trust, of which Cranbrook Education Campus was a member - (c)(ii) below and refrained from voting on this matter only).

The Forum received the report of the Chief Officer for Children’s Services and County Treasurer (DEF/18/03).

The Forum also noted the respective minutes of the Schools Finance Group (SFG) of  

7 March 2018 and issues highlighted by SFG including:-

Growth Policy, Cranbrook (SFG note 2a);

SEND/High Needs (SFG note 4) – discussed at minute 73 below;

Carry Forwards (SFG note 5).

The report (DEF/18/03) covered:-

Budget Monitoring Report Month 10 (2017/18) - Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG);

2017/18 Advanced Notice of Planned Carry Forward;

Growth Fund.

Budget monitoring month 10 summarised the forecast position and major variations and High Needs budgets and forecast position, where continued management action was starting to come through.

In response to the growth fund discussion the County Treasurer advised that the growth fund financial plan proposals included an additional allocation of £1m for 2019/20 to be top-sliced from the Schools Block with a review taking place in following years.  This would effect the amount of funding on the lump sum for primaries and free school meal factors for secondary schools.   The Department for Education were currently reviewing the treatment of Growth Funding as part of the National Funding Formula which may change future decisions on whether there would be a continued need to deal with the Growth Fund locally.

The headteacher associations expressed their appreciation to officers for the ongoing collaborative working to improve outcomes.

DECISION:

(a) that month 10 DSG monitoring position as set out in section 1 of report (DEF/18/03) be noted;

(b) that in respect of the allocation of the deficit and surplus carry forward recommendations from 2017/18 as set out in section 2 of report (DEF/18/03):-

(i)  tables 3 and 4 be approved/noted as indicated:-

Table 3: Deficit budgets to be carried forward

Table 4: Surplus budget carry forward requests

*(Vote: all phases maintained and academy, PVI)

(ii)  table 5 option (b) be approved (as supported by the Schools Finance Group), to carry forward the £151,000 and be included as DSG Contingency, as this funding remained available to maintained schools:-    

     Table 5: Surplus budget no carry forward identified

*(Vote: all phases maintained and academy, PVI)

(c) that in respect of the Growth Fund, section 3 of report (DEF/18/03 and  Growth Policy, Cranbrook (Schools Finance Group note 2a)):-

(i) the revised Growth Fund criteria (Appendix B of the report and paragraphs 10. 11 and 12) be approved and implemented from April 2018;

(ii)  a new paragraph 33 be added to the Growth Fund criteria, ie that:   For a secondary school opening Key Stage 4 classes for the first time, an additional £45,000 be paid as a lump sum at the start of year 10 and then as the pupils progress, a second lump sum be paid at the start of year 11 (ie a total of £90,000 over two years), to cover the incidental costs of the additional class;   

(iii) that the financial plan to include an additional allocation of £1m per annum from 2019/20 from the Schools Block be approved;

*(Vote: all phases maintained and academy, PVI)

ACTION: 

County Treasurer (Adrian Fox)