Agenda and minutes

Minutes of the meeting held on 15 March 2017 attached.

DECISION:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 15 March 2017 be signed as a correct record.

DISCUSSION:

The Chairman reported on  membership changes:-

Ms Sarah Pickering – Special Schools Headteacher (SHAD) elected as substitute member.

End of term of office  wef 31.8.17:-

-Mrs Gemma Rolstone EY PVI was standing down and the Chairman thanked her for her service over recent years;  

-Mrs Tracey de Bernhart Dunkin 16-19,  eligible to stand for re-election.

The respective appointment/election processes were in progress.

ACTION:

County Solicitor (Fiona Rutley)  

10.05am

Head of Education & Learning to report.

DISCUSSION:

The Head of Education & Learning reported on and had circulated documents for members’ information on the following, some of which arose from corresponding minute

(38, 15 March 2017):-

(a) Draft Governor Briefing Devon Support for Schools 2017/18, covering Devon Direct Services and Babcock LDP Commissioned Services;

(b) Final Draft Babcock LDP Commissioning framework Key Priorities 2017/18;

(c) Babcock LDP Annual Report 2015/16;

(d) Draft Babcock LDP/DCC JV Annual Report 2016/17;

(e) Devon Education & Leaning Summary Performance Report , Key Performance Indicators

covered the following and in most areas was better than statistical neighbours/nationally:-

-Take up of Early Years Funding for 2 year olds

-Attainment/Attainment Gaps Post 16

-School Admissions

- Attendance

-Special Educational Needs & Disabilities, SEND (ECHPs improving)

-Not in Education, Employment  or Training (NEETS) - continued work with colleges eg entry requirements 

-Quality of Provision - role of Babcock LDP in supporting schools and role of all Devon schools;

(f) Inclusion – A Better Way of Working .  A full briefing would be provided to all schools as the Council was looking for engagement from this sector. In particular, interest would be welcomed from more isolated rural schools to come forward for this schools led review/project for pupils unable to access mainstream education.  Secondary schools were also willing to contribute; Members discussed SEN reintegration, Exmouth CC reach centre and the Troubled Families Programme.   Schools commented that with budget challenges and a reduction in AWPU unfortunately some Early Help (and staffing) was planned to be cut.  Government lobbying continued  regarding universal funding being insufficient to remove deprivation.

 (g) Public Health Briefing Early Help for Mental Health, May 2017.

On the wider issue of school budget reductions which arose the Head of Education and Learning advised on the Outturn report considered by Cabinet 14 June 2017 and Cabinet decision to earmark up to £700,000 from the Budget Management Reserve to support Maintained schools where the impact in the delay, due to late notification of the pension increase for support staff, would cause hardship.  The Council recognised that this delay would mean that schools’ ability to secure any necessary savings would also have been delayed.  Cases would be looked at on an individual basis at the Financial Intervention Panel, Schools (FIPS). 

ACTION:

Head of Education & Learning (Dawn Stabb - attendance by sector, post 16 examination retake data to DASH)

10.30am

Joint report of the Chief Officer for Children’s Services & Learning and County Treasurer (DEF/17/08) attached

DISCUSSION:

The Forum considered the report of the Head of Education & Learning and County Treasurer (DEF/ 17/08).

The Forum also noted the respective minutes of the Schools Finance Group (SFG) of  24 May 2017.

The report (DEF/17/08) covered:-

(a) Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) 2016/17 Outturn (Section 1 of the report):-

In paragraph 1.4 High Needs example of a recent tribunal affecting the control of spend updated position was noted as referred to by the 16-19 representative.  Devon’s practice was to always try to settle prior to a tribunal and this was achieved more than by most other LAs.

(b) Allocation of Carry Forward from 2016/17 (Section 2):-

It was noted that the adjudication by the Secretary of State in respect of the Forum’s declined carry forward (minute 40, 5 March 2017) was still awaited, with significant additional information requested by the Minister and supplied;

In paragraph 2.1 the second sentence should be deleted as this was now the consideration of the final proposals;

(c)  Mutual Fund;

(d) 2017/18 Early Years Funding Formula Consultation and Proposals:-

Discussion and feedback from the Consultation indicated overall support for the proposals.

The proposal for the removal of the lump sum, as well as Special Educational Needs & Disabilities (SEND) support and deprivation funding was to enable all settings to have a more accessible and fairer allocation as previously some funding could not be accessed by all sectors.

DECISION:

(a) that the DSG Draft Outturn position (subject to Statement of Accounts sign off) as set out in Section 1 be noted;

(b)  that  the allocation of the carry forwards from 2016/17 as set out in Section 2, Table 5 be noted/approved as follows:-

Table 5: Carry Forward from 2016/17

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

(c)  that the year-end Mutual Fund position as set out in Section 3 be noted;

(d)  that Cabinet be recommended:-

that the proposal for the 2017-18 Early Years Funding Formula as set out in Section 4 and Appendix A be approved.  *(Vote: all phases maintained and academy, PVI)

ACTION: 

Head of Education and Learning (Dawn Stabb) and County Treasurer (Julian Dinnicombe)

11am

Joint report of the County Treasurer and Chief Officer for Children’s Services (DEF/17/10) attached.

DISCUSSION:

The Forum considered the Annual Report of the County Treasurer and Chief Officer for Children’s Services (DEF/17/10).   This included an analysis of submissions from schools to FIPS.   The trend for the main reason for submissions in 2016/17 was around redundancy with a rise of 180% from last year.

Funding from the Growth Fund which was under pressure, would be considered in detail at the next two Schools Finance Group meetings.

With the current uncertainty of the National Funding formula, continued challenging fiscal environment and a cash flat Dedicated Schools Grant settlement the role of FIPS was much more pro-active in identifying and engaging with schools with vulnerable budgets at an early stage.

11.20am

To review action for the Forum from its groups and to receive minutes:-

(a) Schools’ Finance Group

Minutes of the meeting held on  24 May 2017, attached.

Also available at 

https://new.devon.gov.uk/educationandfamilies/school-information/devon-education-forum/schools-finance-group

(b) School Organisation, Capital and Admissions Forum

Minutes of the meeting held on  6 June 2017, attached.

Also available at

https://new.devon.gov.uk/educationandfamilies/school-information/devon-education-forum/school-organisation-capital-and-admissions-group-soca

The Forum received the following minutes of its standing groups:-

(a) Schools’ Finance Group (SFG)

Minutes of the meeting held on 24 May 2017 (considered under Finance Update minute 46           above)

DISCUSSION: 

(i)  It was noted that under note 4 Finance Issues (Growth Fund last bullet point)

 “…. where a school is part of a MAT, that support could be provided from within the Trust “ that the following wording was to be added on the end of text for clarification

 “where growth criteria has not been met.”

(ii)  The Early Years PVI representative thanked the LA for its comprehensive engagement with the sector on the Early Years consultation and with NDNA/PVI nationally regarding extended entitlement.

ACTION: Head of Education & Learning (Heidi Watson-Jones)

(b) School Organisation, Capital and Admissions (SOCA)

Minutes of the meeting held on 6 June 2017. 

11.30am

Wed 18 October 2017

Mon 15 January 2018

Wed 21 March 2018.

To be held at 10am at County Hall, Exeter:-

Wed 18 October 2017

Mon 15 January 2018

Wed 21 March 2018.