In the absence of the chairman, Mrs J Rees, the vice-chairman, Mrs S Catlow-Hawkins, took the chair.

Mr A Teale was confirmed as a substitute for Mrs S Lines.

Apologies were received from Mrs W Bradbeer, Mr J Godfrey, Mr T Knapp, Mrs S Lines,  Mrs R Lloyd, Mrs J Rees and Mr P Whitcombe.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 21 October 2016.

Resolved: that the minutes of the meeting of 21 October 2016 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive a report fom the Budget Working Group on the following matters:

·         Special school funding

·         School budget consultation responses

·         Commissioning approach for the early years two year underspend

The vice-chairman noted that a supplementary report had been issued to the original agenda pack covering the meeting of the budget working group (BWG) of 6 January 2017. The recommendations of the BWG regarding the Dedicated Schools Grant and Herefordshire schools budget had been taken on board and an updated set of recommendations to be put to the schools forum under item 6 of the agenda had been issued in the supplementary pack. The forum was therefore only required to note the recommendations of the BWG under this item.

Nigel Griffiths, chairman of the BWG, introduced the report and set out the context. He noted that the settlement from central government had been slightly better than expected and that as a result some changes to the original recommendations were able to be proposed which improved the situation for schools somewhat. He went on to say that the role of the schools forum would change as the national school funding formula was implemented, with less local flexibility in setting the schools budget. Members of the forum were asked to note that the Department for Education (DfE) had published the second stage consultation on the proposed national formula in December. The f40 group of authorities were considering the implications of the proposals and the schools finance manager would report further on this.

The schools finance manager (SFM) summarised the report of the meeting of the BWG on 14 November 2016. The group had received a presentation on special school funding, the slides of which were included in the agenda papers. The SFM reported that an independent expert had been appointed to review special school funding in Herefordshire and that the BWG would receive his report on 24 February 2017. Recommendations arising from this piece of work would be put to the schools forum on 10 March 2017 alongside recommendations on the allocation of the high needs funding block.

The BWG also reviewed the response to the schools budget consultation which took place in the first half of the autumn term. The responses were included in the agenda pack.

Resolved: that the recommendations of the budget working group be noted.

To receive a report on the DSG allocation for 2017/18 and consider final budget proposals for school budgets for 2017/18.

The SFM set out the context of the reports. The report published in the original agenda pack reflected the anticipated allocation from central government. The actual figures were now known and were reported to the BWG at its meeting on 6 January 2017. The recommendations of the BWG from that meeting were taken into account and the update published in the supplement pack represented the final position.

The schools forum was asked to make recommendations to the cabinet member for young people and children’s wellbeing so that a response could be returned to the DfE by the deadline of 20 January 2017.

The SFM summarised the discussion that had taken place at the BWG meeting and set out the final recommendations of the local authority.

The recommended school funding values were as set out in the consultation that had taken place with schools in the first part of the autumn term. The suggested values had been widely accepted. An additional exceptional premises factor had been added at the request of the DfE to cover the property lease of Eastnor School following its conversion to academy status. From April 2018 this would be funded by the DfE directly so this factor was a technical adjustment for one year only.

The savings achieved from the national business rates revaluation exercise and the Minimum Funding Guarantee provided some additional funds which could be allocated to increase some of the school funding values. A range of options had been considered and discussed with the BWG including increasing the lump sum for primary schools, raising funding rates for pupils from deprived backgrounds and raising rates for pupils with low prior attainment. The BWG felt that the best way forward was to seek to increase those factors where Herefordshire fell below the proposed national formula. Consequently it was recommended that the values for ever 6 free school meal pupils and pupils with low prior attainment be increased for primary and secondary phases by the values set out in the report.

The recommendation on de-delegation of funding from local council maintained schools replicated the arrangements in place for 2016/17. The response to the consultation had been nearly unanimous in its support for maintaining these arrangements.

The reduction in the Education Services Grant (ESG) had been forced on the local authority by national changes. This was not something that the council welcomed but a balanced budget had to be set which required savings to be made. The council had sought to put together a reasonable package to cover the reduction which included both corporate savings of £600k and charging some costs back to schools as set out in the recommendations.

The level of transitional grant had been confirmed. This was higher than expected and allowed the local authority to adjust its proposals and provide lower top-slices and charges to schools.

The recommended top-slice for maintained schools had been reduced down to £13.50 per pupil.

An exceptional redundancies reserve of £210k would be created. Exceptional redundancies would be considered  ...  view the full minutes text for item 258.

To receive an update and any interim proposals from the Looking to the Future Task and Finish Groups and to refer them to the Budget Working Group and the Education Strategic Board for comments in accordance with the terms of reference.

The vice-chairman introduced the report on the work of the high needs task and finish group. She noted that there was a lot of information contained in the agenda pack and that the members of the forum were not required to make a decision at this meeting. Members were asked to direct any feedback on the work to date to the head of additional needs or to the vice-chairman, as she was the lead head teacher on the task and finish group. A further report setting out specific recommendations for consideration by the forum would be brought to a future meeting.

The assistant director commissioning and education stated that Herefordshire was not alone in experiencing pressure on the high needs funding block. Many other authorities were struggling and some were in a considerably worse position. There would be some difficult decisions ahead but the work done would help to inform the options available. He encouraged all members to read the reports and feedback to the vice-chairman and the head of additional needs.

The vice-chairman stated that a number of meetings and a large amount of thought, consultation and research had gone into the report presented to the meeting. She thanked the head of additional needs for his work in putting the report together.

Resolved: that the work of the high needs task and finish group to date be noted.

To consider the Forum’s current work programme.

The forum was asked to note the latest work programme.

The agenda for the meeting of 10 March 2017 would include a draft response to the DfE stage 2 consultation on the National School Funding Formula. It was intended that the response be a joint one from the local authority and the schools forum.

Resolved: that the work programme be noted.

The next meeting will be Friday 10 March 2017 at 9:30am.

The next meeting was confirmed as being Friday 10 March 2017 at 9:30am.

Resolved: that the date and time of the next meeting be noted.