In the absence of the outgoing chairman the clerk to the Schools Forum opened the meeting.

To elect a Chairman for the ensuing year.

Resolved:  that Mr A Evans be elected Chairman of the Forum for the ensuing year.

Mr A Evans, Chairman, in the chair.

Mr Evans expressed his thanks to the outgoing chairman, Mrs J Rees, for her work noting her close partnership with the local authority and encouragement for schools to respond to consultations.

To elect a Vice-Chairman for the ensuing year.

There were no nominations for vice-chairman of the forum.

Resolved: that the role of vice-chairman be left vacant and the matter reconsidered at the next meeting of the schools forum.

Mrs S Bailey, Mr M Farmer, Mrs S Lines, Mrs J Rees, Mrs K Weston.

None.

Mr Deneen and Mr Lewandowski declared an interest in item 9, Trade Union Facilities, as Trades Union representatives on the forum.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 7 July 2017.

Resolved: that the minutes of the meeting held on 7 July 2017 be approved as a correct record and signed by the chairman.

To elect a Chairman of the Budget Working Group for the ensuing year.

The chairman thanked the outgoing chairman, Mr N Griffiths, for his work.

Resolved:  that Mrs J Rees be elected chairman of the budget working group for the ensuing year.

To inform schools forum of the government’s proposals for the national school funding formula and to recommended to the council the Budget Working Group’s (BWG) initial proposals for consultation with schools during October and November.

The schools finance manager (SFM) introduced the report. He reported that the final details of the national funding formula had been published. The government had announced an additional £1.3bn to fund the following changes to the original proposals:

·         Basic per pupil funding increased
Primary           from £2,712    to £2,747
Key Stage 3    from £3,797    to £3,863
Key Stage 4    from £4,312    to £4,386

·         minimum per pupil funding (i.e. basic entitlement, additional needs and school led funding) is set at £4,600 for secondary and £3,300 for primary for 2018/19, all Herefordshire schools were already funded above these levels

·         minimum per pupil funding increasing to £4,800 for secondary and £3,500 for primary for 2019/20

·         minimum cash increase in respect of every school of at least 0.5% per pupil in 2018/19 and a further 0.5% in 2019/20.

The government had confirmed that there would be a soft transition to the national funding formula over two years.

A detailed comparison on a school by school basis had been circulated to all schools in Spotlight and was attached as appendix 2 to the report. Herefordshire would gain around 1% under the national formula.

It was reported that a poll of local authorities attending a national DfE conference showed half intended to implement the national funding formula for 2018/19 and the rest were seriously considering it.

The budget working group had met and discussed the options for Herefordshire for the 2018/19 budget. The group had felt that the only sensible option was to implement the national formula as far as funds allowed. Any deviation from the national formula would have to then be undone for 2019/20. The recommendations in the report reflected the views of the budget working group.

The high needs block and central services block would also be formula funded in 2018/19. The central services block would increase by 2.5% and the high needs block would increase by 2.9%.

The local authority had flexibility for 2018/19 to set the minimum funding guarantee at between 0% and -1.5%. However many authorities, including Herefordshire, were seeking to pass on the +0.5% per pupil increase to schools. In order to do this permission would be required from the secretary of state. The SFM therefore proposed an additional recommendation to the forum to support the application to the secretary of state. All Herefordshire schools would gain at least 0.5% per pupil, some would gain slightly more.

The DfE had not released any information on how the national formula would operate from April 2020 onwards.

The SFM reported that the high needs block continued to be under pressure. Many local authorities were overspending on their high needs block, some by considerable sums. A projected overspend of £300k on the Herefordshire high needs block for 2017/18 had been reported to the budget working group. The working group were very clear that action needed to be taken to address the projected overspend. The working group would receive further information at its meeting in November 2017 and the SFM confirmed that he would  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

To review the new arrangements for trade union facilities within schools and to propose a revised amount per pupil for de-delegation to apply from April 2018, subject to consultation with schools and a final decision by the Schools Forum in January 2018.

The HR services manager introduced the report. She highlighted the non-statutory advice published by the DfE in January 2014, after which a review of trade union facilities was undertaken. That review concluded that facility time payment would be standardised from September 2017 for all teaching trade union representatives. The trade union representatives were no longer employed by the local authority and were instead treated as self-employed.

The importance of transparency and efficient use of resources was noted. There was variation in the cost per pupil between local authorities which was in part due to economies of scale for larger authorities and difference in levels of service provided.

Current arrangements in Herefordshire comprised de-delegation for maintained primary schools and a service level agreement available for all other schools. The number of schools buying in to the SLA had been steadily falling.

The local authority proposed to reduce the cost per pupil from £3.50 to £2.90 for 2018/19. This would be included in consultation with schools after October half term. The budget working group would continue to examine ways to reduce the rate further for 2019/20 to include consideration of alternative models such as offering a basic service with specific additional work charged at a flat rate as needed.

The trade union representatives on the schools forum did not vote on the recommendations.

Resolved that:

(a)   schools forum provided its views on a de-delegated amount of £2.90 per pupil, effective from 1 April 2018, being formed on the basis of consultation with schools; and

(b)   the Budget Working Group be asked to provide a further report by June 2018 on the potential for a further reduction in 2019/20 on the cost per pupil.

To receive a verbal update on progress regarding early years and high needs proposals.

The schools finance manager provided an update on the outcome of work undertaken by the early years and high needs task and finish groups.

He reported that detailed proposals for spending the early years underspend were due to be presented to the cabinet member for young people and children’s wellbeing for approval. The proposals had been developed through the early years strategic group and would primarily focus on speech and language support.

The work of the high needs task and finish group would inform discussion on measures to manage the pressure on the high needs budget. As previously noted, proposals would be considered by the budget working group and brought to the schools forum in March 2018.

In the discussion that followed it was noted that:

·         the early years proposal would support employment of speech and language therapists to deal with the large backlog of assessments, experts would also work with schools and settings to build knowledge and expertise;

·         there would also be an element of mental health training to support families and children;

·         all local authorities were facing difficulties with demands on their high needs budgets, it was important to work as efficiently as possible and to work within the available funding;

·         consultation would take place on any proposals to change high needs funding though the budget working group, if effective measures could not be identified then it might be necessary to re-establish the task and finish group;

·         it was important that all schools were rigorous in ensuring appropriate financial support was in place based on the child’s needs, this included removing funding where it was no longer required;

·         outreach support would be one of the measures considered but funding would need to be identified

To consider the Forum’s work programme.

The work programme was considered. No additional items were proposed.

To note that the following meeting dates have been scheduled:

1 December 2017

12 January 2018

16 March 2018 (note changed of date)

22 June 2018

It was noted that there were no items of business for the meeting scheduled for 1 December 2017 and it was proposed that this meeting be cancelled.

It was also noted that the March 2018 meeting had been moved to 16 March to avoid a clash.

Resolved that:

The meeting of schools forum scheduled for 1 December 2017 be cancelled due to lack of business.