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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

123.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 110 KB

Minutes of the meeting held on 19 June 2019 attached.

Minutes:

DECISION:

 

That the minutes of the meeting held on 19 June 2019 be signed as a correct record.

124.

Standards Committee Monitoring

Minutes:

The Chair welcomed Mr Hodgins, DCC Standards Committee attending the meeting for monitoring purposes.

125.

Matters Arising from the Last Meeting and Report back on Issues Raised with Cabinet/f40 Funding Group

To consider any matters arising from the last meeting where not otherwise covered on this agenda and to report on items considered at the Cabinet, or f40 Funding Group.

Minutes:

DISCUSSION:

 

The County Treasurer reported that Councillor McInnes (Cabinet Member - Children, Schools & Skills and Chair of f40) had welcomed recent government announcements for further education spending but stated that these were not sufficient to bridge the High Needs Block gap. 

 

Devon schools would continue to provide support/evidence to f40 when requested.

 

The County Treasurer would be attending an f40 meeting next week and would report back to the January 2020 meetings of the Schools Finance Group and DEF as appropriate.

 

 

126.

Membership

Minutes:

DISCUSSION:

 

Further to primary, secondary maintained/academy elections held over the summer 2019 and a subsequent resignation, DAG were conducting Autumn Term 2019 elections to fill outstanding vacancies.

 

Additionally, Ms Clare Barden, Executive Principal Devon WAVE had now been elected as the Alternative Provision substitute member.       

127.

Head of Education & Learning Update

Head of Education & Learning to report.

Minutes:

DISCUSSION:

 

The Head of Education & Learning reported on:-

 

(a) Babcock LDP Contract (ending 2022) 

 

A Project Board (including DAPH/DASH and DAG representatives) had now been established to consider what sort of services the County Council and schools wished to see for the future when the current contracted ended.  The contract could not be extended and this process was not a reflection on services from the current provider.

 

Schools, governors and other stakeholders would be encouraged to respond to a survey on services (including 66 statutory services) due to be sent out early December 2019, closing

14 January 2020.

 

(b)  High Needs

 

In order to help to address the significant funding gap within the High Needs Block and less dependence on the independent school sector, a £15m bid was being made to the meeting of the Corporate Capital Group, subject to ratification when the County Council budget is approved in February 2020.  This would provide an additional 300 places at Devon special schools, commencing from September 2021 (all 300 places by 2024) with significant projected direct and cost avoidance savings.

128.

Finance Update pdf icon PDF 344 KB

Report of Chief Officer for Children’s Services and County Treasurer (DEF/19/09) attached

Minutes:

DISCUSSION:

 

The Forum considered the report of the Chief Officer for Children’s Services and County Treasurer (DEF/19/09) regarding the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) budget monitoring report month 6 (2019/20) forecasting overspend of £18.7m. The forecast table (paragraph 1.2) did not include £3.5m reserves (awaiting clarity on the recent DfE consultation on the conditions of grant).

 

The Forum also noted the respective minutes of the Schools Finance Group (SFG) of 6 November 2019.

 

Members noted that month 7 monitoring would not be formally carried out due to budget preparations however Schools Finance Group members would be kept informed of the position.

 

Members discussion also included:-

 

-welcoming the £3.5m reserve set aside awaiting on the DfE consultation, not dependent upon another;

 

-continuing concern at the HNB funding gap (now £18.7m) and that the current HNB structure was not fit for purpose;

 

-DfE consultation on Minimum Per Pupil Funding mandatory formula factor anticipated to proceed;

 

-concern that schools (via the DSG) were anticipated to pick up HNB costs associated to post 16 places, which accounted for 197 placements (36%) of the independent special school sector;

 

-various initiatives to reduce the use of the independent special school sector (eg

 mainstream schools accessing outreach specialist SEN provision in special schools).

 

DECISION:

 

(a) that month 6 DSG monitoring position be noted;

 

(b)(i) that the County Treasurer raise the Forum’s concern over schools picking up 18-25 HNB costs as part of a DSG Deficit Recovery Plan for 2019/20 with f40; and

 

(b)(ii) a letter be sent to the DfE on behalf of the Forum seeking clarification on this matter.

 

ACTION:

 

County Treasure (Adrian Fox)

129.

2020-21 Schools Funding Arrangements pdf icon PDF 384 KB

Report of Chief Officer for Children’s Services and County Treasurer (DEF/19/10) attached.

 

Minutes:

DISCUSSION:

 

The Forum considered the report of the Chief Officer for Children’s Services and County Treasurer (DEF/19/10), as well as noting the respective minutes of the Schools Finance Group (SFG) of 6 November 2019.

 

The report covered:-

-2020-21 Schools Funding (including DCC consultation with schools responses)

-Delegation and De-delegation

-Centrally Held Funding.

 

A total of 105 (29%) school responses had been received (compared to 155 last year), with analysis in the report’s appendices A-E.  In respect of the movement between DSG blocks (paragraph 1.35 of the report), school views had been sought regarding transferring up to  0.5% from the schools block in 2020-21 (one year only, not a permanent basis).  However due to further developments and likely requirements by the DfE members felt it prudent to further consult schools at this stage on this particular point. It was felt that schools were more likely to consider transferring funds if these could be utilised to pump prime a specific project of benefit to all schools as part of a DSG recovery plan, rather than to just offset the HNB deficit.   The consultation outcome would need to be considered during the next cycle of DEF meetings and for submissions to DfE in January 2020.    The Forum was mindful of the HNB in the short term for next year’s budget, the 5-10 year plan and HNB culture.

 

DECISION:

 

(a) that Cabinet be recommended to approve the proposals for the 2020-21 schools revenue funding formula (as set out in section 1 (1.43) of report DEF/19/10) i.e. to:-

(i)   remove the reception uplift in line with the national funding formula factors

(ii)  increase the primary lump sum to £110,000

(iii) set the MFG at plus 0.5% rising to plus 1.84% depending on affordability

(iv) set all NFF factors at the new rates prescribed in the October 2019 operational guidance (v)  increase AWPU for all pupils if funding permits;

 

Note (i) – (iv) above: that the final funding rates may change subject to affordability when the October 2019 pupil data and Schools Block DSG settlement is confirmed in late December 2019.

(Vote: Schools, Academies and PVI members)

 

(b) that the views expressed by schools regarding transferring 0.5% to the High Needs block be noted, but that further consultation on this be carried out without delay;

 

(c) that the de-delegation proposed services for maintained primary and maintained secondary schools be approved (as set out in section 2.3) of report DEF/19/10) be approved on a maintained primary/secondary basis, i.e:-

(i)  behaviour support services

(ii)  support to under-performing ethnic groups and bilingual learners

(iii) licences and subscriptions

(note: All licensing is covered by a national licence and the DfE charge the local authority except CLEAPPS (LEA Provision of Science Services)

(iv)  trade unions

(v)  jury service /magistrates duties

(vi) maternity

(vii) contingencies (including schools in financial difficulties and exceptional events);

(Vote: Maintained primary members)

(Vote: Maintained secondary members)

 

(d) that the centrally held funding allocations (as set out in section 3.4) of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 129.

130.

Standing (and other) Groups pdf icon PDF 108 KB

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

 

(a) Schools’ Finance Group

 

Minutes of the meeting held on 11 September and 6 November 2019, attached.

 

Note: SEND/High Needs Block Invest to Save Projects (SFG minute 2, 11 September 2019 approved under the Forum’s urgency procedures – see agenda item 10 below);

 

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 24 September 2019, attached.

 

Also available at

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

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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

 

(a) Schools’ Finance Group (SFG)

 

Minutes of the meetings held on 11 September and 6 November 2019 (considered under Finance Update minute above).

 

(note: SEND/High Needs Block Invest to Save Projects (SFG minute 2, 11 September 2019 approved under the Forum’s urgency procedures – see minute 131 below)

 

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

 

Minutes of the meeting held on 24 September 2019. 

131.

Items taken as a Matter of Urgency

To note the following matters approved by this Forum in accordance with its urgency procedures as detailed in the constitution:-

 

(a) SEND Invest to Save Projects (SFG minute 2, 11 September 2019 approved);

 

(b) DEF Proportionality maintained/academy primary representation - update

(DEF minute 120, 19 June 2019). 

 

RECOMMENDED: that the Forum consider any comments received from primary phase schools and academies to be reported verbally to the meeting.

Minutes:

To note the following matters approved by this Forum in accordance with its urgency procedures as detailed in the constitution:

 

(a) SEND Invest to Save Projects (SFG minute 2, 11 September 2019 approved);

 

(b) DEF Proportionality maintained/academy primary representation - update (DEF minute 120, 19 June 2019). 

 

DEF members, as well as primary phase schools and academies had been consulted upon proportionality following the expected academy conversion of a schools member’s school not proceeding.

 

DECISION:

 

that as no comments had been received from primary phase schools and academies, the existing maintained/academies primary phase ratio would remain at 6:2 (instead of moving to 5:3) until the next annual review (for September 2020) or earlier in the event of any resignation of a primary maintained schools member.

 

132.

Dates of Future Meetings

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

 

Wednesday 22 January 2020

Wednesday 18 March 2020.

 

Wednesday 17 June 2020

Wednesday 18 November 2020

Wednesday 20 January 2021

Wednesday 17 March 2021.

 

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):

 

Wednesday 22 January 2020

Wednesday 18 March 2020.

Wednesday 17 June 2020

Wednesday 18 November 2020

Wednesday 20 January 2021

Wednesday 17 March 2021.

 

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

 


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