Apologies were received from Mrs S Catlow-Hawkins, Mrs J Cohn, Mr A Davies, Mr J Godfrey, Ms A Jackson, Ms T Kneale, Mr M Lewis and Mrs R Lloyd.

There were no named substitutes.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 23 October 2015.

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the meeting held on 23 October 2015 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To consider final budget proposals for school budgets and the high needs block for the dedicated schools grant for 2016/17.

The Forum considered final budget proposals for school budgets and the high needs block for the dedicated schools grant (DSG) for 2016/17.

A supplementary report from the Budget Working Group (BWG) containing some additional recommendations and some presentation slides had been circulated separately.

The Chairman of the BWG introduced a presentation.  He thanked members of the Group and officers for their work.  He summarised the position to date that, in response to a forecast overspend on the high needs budget, a savings plan had been agreed by the high needs task group.  The DSG settlement had been better than expected meaning that there was no need to top slice school budgets to fund high needs.  The BWG had supported the preferred option for allocating the additional resources to the high needs block.  He also highlighted a list of guiding principles that had evolved to underpin the BWG’s approach and invited the Forum to endorse them.

The School Finance Manager (SFM) continued the presentation.  This included some draft guiding principles for high needs, which it was noted were to be considered by the high needs task group before a recommendation was made to the Forum; the final DSG settlement of £114,379k, the high needs forecast overspend of £906k for 2016/17, and the proposed high needs savings of £941k as set out in the published report.  The SFM noted that many authorities nationally were experiencing similar pressures on the high needs budgets.

The SFM identified that the outstanding issues for consideration were:  funding for special school costs in part or in full, funding for the Primary School SEN threshold protection scheme, extra delegation for secondary schools to support Pupil referral unit (PRU) charges to help reduce exclusions, funding of the multi-agency support hub – noting that the Secretary of State had not yet agreed to grant approval to vary the base Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) budget to fund posts at the hub; and the need for investment in more in-county places to reduce the future costs of expensive out-county placements.

He reported that a member of the Forum, who was unable to be present, had submitted concerns about the introduction of a £6,000 charge for medical needs/visual impairment/hearing impairment, when previously  these had been regarded by schools as separate to other high needs, and had also commented on the importance of retaining an SEN protection scheme for primary schools.  The SFM commented that the view had been taken that all special needs should be treated the same.  The proposal provided a modified SEN protection scheme for primary schools for 2016/17 only.  All the medical, visually impaired and hearing impaired high needs pupils would be included within the SEN protection scheme. He noted that this matter would have to be considered in the light of the forthcoming DfE consultation on high needs and any changes required would be the subject of a further report to the Forum.

He invited the Forum to identify if there were any other issues of concern. None were  ...  view the full minutes text for item 230.

To consider the Forum’s work programme.

The Forum considered its work programme.

The School Finance Manager highlighted the significance of the consultation papers expected to be issued by the DfE in February 2016.  It was confirmed that these would be made available to all schools and to Forum members individually upon receipt.

He also highlighted that the Education Services Grant was to be reduced nationally by 75% from April 2017.  This meant the Council’s budget for a range of strategic services to schools would be reduced by some £1m.  This would have significant implications and a report was scheduled for Schools Forum in July 2016.

RESOLVED:   That the work programme be noted, with the addition of a report on school balances added to the agenda for the meeting on 10 June 2016.

The following meetings have been scheduled:

11 March 2016 (9.30 am)

10 June 2016 (9.30 am)

8 July 2016 (9.30 am)

21 October 2016 (9.30 am)

2 December 2016 (9.30 am)

13 January 2017 (9.30 am)

10 March 2017 (9.30 am)

The Forum noted the programme of meetings.