Apologies were received from Mr P Barns, Mr M Harrisson, Mrs A Jackson, Ms T Kneale, Mrs R Lloyd, and Mrs K Rooke.

Mr C Lewandowski substituted for Mr M Harrisson.

There were none.

To receive any announcements form the Chairman.

There were none.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 24 February 2012.

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of he meeting held on 24 February 2012 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To consider a report from the Budget Working Group (BWG) on the following issue: Dedicated Schools Grant 2012/13 – proposals for delegation of Band 3 and Band 4 funding and make recommendations to the Cabinet Member for approval.

The Forum considered a report from the Budget Working Group (BWG) on the following issue: Dedicated Schools Grant 2012/13 – proposals for delegation of Band 3 and Band 4 funding and make recommendations to the Cabinet Member for approval.

The Forum had referred this issue to the BWG at its meeting on 24 February.

The Chairman of the BWG introduced the report reporting that the BWG considered the new proposal represented an equitable settlement for all schools.

The Schools Finance Manager presented the report.

RESOLVED:

THAT Schools Forum recommends to the Cabinet Member for Corporate Services and Education amendments to the delegation proposals for Band 3 and Band 4 SEN funding as follows:

(i)              The delegation proposals for band 3 and band 4 funding should provide protection for primary and high schools by protecting the delegation formula against average spend over the previous three years and ensuring the delegated funding is subject to a minimum of known commitments in 2012/13 as set out in Option C of the  appended report: Delegated proposals for Band 3 and Band 4 2012/13;

(ii)                       the £100K previously proposed to be set aside for Minimum Funding Guarantee protection be added to the  retained £234k available for primary new band 4 and part band 3 funding as part of the increased funding for special educational needs in 2012/13 and be used to support any higher than anticipated applications including those for March 2012; and

(iii)           that the protection for known commitments should be reduced over a four year period by a quarter each year to further protect existing pupils in Key Stage 2 moving onto high schools.

There were none.