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Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Suite - County Hall

Contact: Fiona Rutley 01392 382305  Email: fiona.rutley@devon.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

114.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 117 KB

Minutes of the meeting held on 20 March 2019 attached.

Minutes:

DECISION:

 

That the minutes of the meeting held on  20 March 2109 be signed as a correct record, subject to:-

 

-Attendance of Mr Blythe being amended to 16-19 Petroc College; and  

 

-minute 111, 2nd paragraph, 1 September 20198 being amended to 2019.

115.

Matters Arising from the Last Meeting and Report back on Issues Raised with Cabinet

To consider any matters arising from the last meeting where no otherwise covered on this agenda and to report on items considered at the Cabinet.

Minutes:

DISCUSSION:

 

The Cabinet Member - Children, Schools & Skills reported further on f40 group’s Fairer Funding campaign developments, ongoing meetings and presentations to MPs and the DfE which had been received with interest. 

 

Representations were particularly timely at present and there was also an opportunity for all interested parties to respond to the current consultation on the sustainability of SEN provision.

 

F40 was working with a wide range of education interests including teacher unions to coordinate data and speak in partnership.

 

The Cabinet Member would welcome headteacher representation at his meeting with the

Rt Hon Damian Hinds MP, Secretary of State for Education in July 2019.  He encouraged Devon school leaders to continue to involve their local MPs in fair funding matters affecting their local schools, for which videos, data and case studies had been prepared by the County Council and Phase Associations.  

 

The Associations welcomed f40’s continued detailed campaigning for fairer school funding and recognised the work of the Cabinet Member in his role as Chair of f40.

 

ACTION:  Phase Associations (to continue to encourage school leaders’ dialogue with local MPs)

 

116.

Head of Education & Learning Update

Head of Education & Learning to report.

Minutes:

DISCUSSION:

 

The Head of Education & Learning reported on:-

 

(a)  Performance Data - F40 lowest funded LAs compared to all LAs

 

This indicated a clear link for disadvantaged pupils in f40 LAs having lower outcomes across a number of data sets. Ways of improving outcomes were being explored and it was hoped that this data could help to secure additional funding for lower funded Local Authorities so they could better support this group.

 

Additionally cohort variation data 2016-2018 included SEN pupils, of which there were less pupils in maintained schools in 2018 compared to 2016. 

 

The Devon Schools Alliance was working on various projects to assist disadvantaged pupils.  In the Torridge area Devon County Council and Dartmoor Multi Academy Trust were delivering the proven Plymouth Teaching school Oracy programme.  A vocabulary project was also being planned for roll out across the county. 

 

(b) Adult Joint Funded SEN contribution arising from minute 107 (20 March 2019) 

 

The Committee noted that Adult Care had agreed to pay its contribution and this had been paid directly to the provider, from whom it would be either directly refunded to the LA or clawed back.

 

(c) Babcock LDP Contract (ending 2022)

 

The Head of Education & Learning would hold initial informal early stage discussions with SFG representatives to help inform timelines and consultation with schools for consideration of future LDP provision after the current contract.

 

(d) School Business Managers

 

A request had been received from this group for them to have a more prominent role in the work of the Forum to share expertise, in view of the Forum’s formula consultation with schools and the National Funding Formula.

 

Members discussed election and accountability issues and that it was important that any new representative could represent all schools appropriately (primary and secondary, maintained and academy).  Some reservation was expressed as to whether 1 representative could represent all).

 

It was suggested that a one-off trial attendance at the Schools Finance Group September 2019 meeting should be explored, to assist with the funding consultation meetings with schools to be held during the autumn term.  Business managers could be invited to put forward 1 representative to represent all schools in an advisory (non-voting) capacity.

 

(note:  Schools Forum regulations permitted a “bursar or other person responsible for the financial management of schools” as an elected Schools or Academies member, although in Devon this had not been the case). 

 

DECISION:

 

that school business managers be invited to put forward 1 representative to represent all schools (non-voting) at the Schools Finance Group September 2019 meeting.

 

ACTION:

 

Head of Education & Learning

(a) Performance data to be circulated to DEF members (Dawn Stabb/Fiona Rutley)

(b) bursar representation at SFG (Dawn Stabb/Heidi Watson Jones)

117.

Finance Update pdf icon PDF 154 KB

Joint report of Chief Officer for Children’s Services and County Treasurer (DEF/19/06) attached.

Minutes:

DISCUSSION:

 

The Forum considered the report of the Chief Officer for Children’s Services and County Treasurer (DEF/19/06).

 

The Forum also noted the respective minutes of the Schools Finance Group (SFG) of 5 June 2019.

 

The Chief Officer for Children’s Services gave an overview of Children’s Services wider investment picture, including for example where Devon had retained youth services and children’s centres investment where some LAs had not. However significantly more challenges were expected during 2020/21 financial year and preparations for managed efficiency savings across the whole of Children’s Services were underway, before the Council’s November 2019 Cabinet meeting.   A holistic look at better reintegration would assist investment targeting. 

 

The report (DEF/19/06) covered:-

 

DSG and Schools Funding Outturn 2018/19

Allocation of Carry Forward from 2018/19 (previously approved in principle)

Growth Fund

Mutual Fund

 

Members also noted that balanced budgets were being achieved by schools by taking appropriate management action (paragraph 1.2);

 

It was also requested that a short brief be sent to schools on High Needs Block invest to save (paragraph 1.2).

 

It was proposed that due to increased costs in 2019/20 for subscriptions, £17,000 of the 2018/19 underspend (carry forward) would be used to meet this year’s increases (paragraph 1.3).

 

DECISION:

 

(a) that the DSG Draft Outturn position (subject to Statement of Accounts sign off) as set out in Section 1 of report (DEF/19/06) be noted, subject to:-

 

(i) the Forum records its thanks that the County Council has met the £2.8m overspend DSG 2018/19 as part of the Outturn position;

 

(ii)  £17,000 being used against the £173,000 Subscriptions and Trade Unions underspend (paragraph 1.3 of the report), to give a revised figure of £156,000 (due to increased costs in 2019/20 subscriptions);

 

(Vote: Schools, Academies and PVI members)

 

(b) that the allocation of the carry forwards from 2018/19 as set out in Section 2.1 and Table 5 of report (DEF/19/06) be noted or approved:-

 

2.1, Table 5: Carry Forward from 2018/19

 

 

Budget Line

Amount

£’000

 

Notes

 

Resolved

Mainstream School balances

13,872

Automatically carried forward in Individual School budgets

2.2 noted

Total School balances

13,872

 

 

Maternity

662

Balance to fund ongoing maternity cover

2.3 noted

Schools and DSG Contingency

1,660

Balance to fund contingency agreements in 2019/20 onwards

2.3 noted

Phase Associations

8

DASH balance to carry forward to 2019/20

2.3 noted

Trade Unions and Subscriptions

156*

Costs lower than expected, Invest to save project for High Needs agreed by DEF

2.3 noted

Growth Fund

(93)

Deficit Balance – agreed to be carried forward by DEF 

2.3 noted

Total De-delegated and Central Provisions budgets

2,410

 

 

Special School Balances

2,255

Automatically carried forward as Individual School budgets

2.4 noted

Hospital Education

78

Automatically carried forward as Individual School budgets

2.4 noted

Mainstream SEN

35

 

Digitalisation of EHCP records – purchase of new system delayed to 2019/20 £31k and £4k Post 16 Element 2

2.5 noted

Other Special Schools

(2,473)

Deficit Balance – agreed to be carried forward by DEF 

2.6 noted

Total High Needs

(105)

 

 

Early Years Other Early  ...  view the full minutes text for item 117.

118.

Dedicated Schools Grant Monitoring Month 1 pdf icon PDF 151 KB

Joint report of the Chief Officer for Children’s Services and County Treasurer (DEF/19/07) attached.

Minutes:

DISCUSSION:

 

The Forum considered the report of the Chief Officer for Children’s Services and County Treasurer (DEF/19/07).

 

The Forum also noted the respective minutes of the Schools Finance Group (SFG) of 5 June 2019.

 

Month 1 was forecasting DSG overspend of £7.6m.    The High Needs Block was under significant pressure despite ongoing a management actions, with a current overspend of £11.1m.

 

Discussion included:-

 

-the development of Alternative Provision following the main AP contract being taken over by WAVE in November 2018 and how the Cornish model worked.  Currently in
Devon there was no capacity to grow as a high quality outreach/early intervention service;

 

-difficulties with reintegrating AP pupils back into mainstream education exacerbating the lack of AP places. 

 

-how FE colleges may assist to help free up places.

 

 

DECISION:

 

(a) that the month 1 DSG monitoring position be noted.

 

(b) that the significant HNB pressure be further highlighted to government, demonstrating the impact of lack of government funding and government policy to manage increasing HNB pupils.

 

ACTION: 

 

County Treasurer (Adrian Fox) – (b)

 

Head of Education & Learning (Julia Foster) – contact 16-19 representative re FE involvement.

 

 

119.

FIPS (Financial Intervention Panel, Schools) Annual Report pdf icon PDF 125 KB

Joint report of the Chief Officer for Children’s Services and County Treasurer (DEF/19/08) attached.

Minutes:

DISCUSSION:

 

The Forum received the report of the Chief Officer for Children’s Services and County Treasurer (DEF/19/06), which included-

 

-FIPS’ role as an officer group, scrutinising budgets and recovery plans of schools at financial risk, considering various school governing body requests, as well as signposting for planning for long term financial viability;

 

-Analysis of the 40 submissions and outcomes in 2018/19, which was a 90% increase on 2017/18, with primary schools increasing 3 fold, mainly for redundancy and also licensed deficit requests.

 

FIPS continued to be pro-active at an early stage during uncertain and challenging funding times.

120.

DEF Proportionality 2019

To note arrangements following consultation with members, based on 2019 pupil census data predicted to 2019/20 academic year, ie:-

 

The 8 DEF primary phase seats allocation will move towards 5 maintained:3 academy

(instead of the current 6 maintained: 2 academy).

Minutes:

DISCUSSION:

 

The arrangements following consultation with members, based on 2019 pupil census data predicted to 2019/20 academic year were noted, ie:

No change, excepting the 8 DEF primary phase seats allocation would move towards

5 maintained:3 academy (instead of the current 6 maintained: 2 academy).

 

ACTION:  County Solicitor (Fiona Rutley)                 

 

 

121.

Standing (and other) Groups pdf icon PDF 167 KB

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

 

(a) Schools’ Finance Group

 

Minutes of the meeting held on 5 June 2019, 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 11 June 2019, to follow.

 

Also available at

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

 

 

Minutes:

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

 

(a) Schools’ Finance Group (SFG)

 

Minutes of the meeting held on 5 June 2019 (considered under Finance Update minute 117           above)

 

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

 

Minutes of the meeting held on 11 June 2019.  

122.

Dates of Future Meetings

Meetings to be held at County Hall, Exeter, at 10am (unless otherwise specified):-

 

Wed 20 November 2019

Wed 22 January 2020

Wed 18 March 2020.  

 

https://democracy.devon.gov.uk/mgCalendarMonthView.aspx?GL=1&bcr=1

Minutes:

Meetings to be held at County Hall, Exeter, at 10am (unless otherwise specified):-

 

Wed 20 November 2019

Wed 22 January 2020

Wed 18 March 2020.  

 

https://democracy.devon.gov.uk/mgCalendarMonthView.aspx?GL=1&bcr=1

 


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