Gill Battye (who was represented by Maureen Penhaligon), Cathy Gilfillan (who was represented by Daneian Rees), Lisa Redfern, Sue Foot

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 30 June 2011.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Schools’ Forum held on 30 June 2011 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman. 

Chairman reported that the Extended Services Review Group had met in June and July (Minute 459 refers)  the  report on the £250,000 for Extended Services will be presented at  the January School’s Forum Meeting to enable this report to reflect the overall position of Children’s Services in 2012/13.

Minute 4.60 SBR1 Budget Plan/Statement of Funds. The Head of Schools Commissioning reported that all relevant head teachers and/or chairs of governors had been contacted. All schools had specific reasons for the high levels of carry forward. 

Head of Schools Commissioning gave a verbal update on Minute 4.64 – Job Evaluation Equal Pay Claims. Currently there were a number of claims outstanding and are being dealt with by our solicitors. There is no date as yet for settlement

Schools Forum to note

The Finance Manager advised the Forum that as a statutory requirement each authority has to complete a Section 251 return detailing their spending plans for the forthcoming year.  An analysis has been undertaken and the statistics compared with our neighbours.

The analysis focused on the DSG (Dedicated Schools Grant), but excluded academy pupils for the calculation of spending per head. 

Column 1 – This reflects a broadly average allocation of funding via the schools funding formula.

Page 6 Item 5.  PRU.  High costs due to number of children being educated in specialised and sometimes 1:1 tuition.

Page 7.  Home to School Transport is Local Authority funding not DSG.  Discretionary spending has changed due to charging.  Subsidy reducing further next year.  SEN transport funding has reduced slightly although the pattern of SEN provision will make this a large expenditure area.  Some routes are to independent provision such as Exeter West of England School and Royal School for the Deaf.

A Forum Member asked about impact of Dartmouth College advertising a free bus to the school from Torbay and how this is funded.  This is funded by the academy or Devon County Council not Torbay.

Column 66 – School Improvement – Torbay’s spending is a lot less than neighbours. 

Item 12.  The Finance Manager informed that this figure may be an anomaly and will require further investigation.

Schools Forum to comment.

At the last School Forum Meeting the consultation documents were circulated.  After a workshop of Forum members the Chairman the Forum submitted a response.  The consultation was less about a national formula for schools and more about a fairer distribution of funding from the DfE to local authorities.

However, there will be a tightening up of criteria used within the local schools funding formula. For example there will be a prescribed ratio for funding levels between Primary and Secondary Schools.    The Forum will need to see more detail on how this will affect Torbay ahead of implementation in April 2013.

Schools Forum to comment.

DFE are looking to increase the accountability for the use of capital.  The LA will coordinate the provision of school places across all schools including academies.

Schools Forum to comment.

A 4 week consultation on funding for the LACSEG. A larger number of schools had converted than the DfE had budgeted for and the methodology for calculating the LACSEG was being revisited.

Verbal report from The Finance Manager.

The Chairman would like this as a Standing Item on future agendas.

The current budget projection for the 2011/12 outturn is that this budget will break even. This has taken into account the primary to secondary pupil transfers.

Schools Forum to agree the recommendations.

Section 151 officer responsibility to report to The Schools Forum and then be signed off by the DFE.  The Finance Manager advised that the projections were very close to the final figures. Forum commended those in the data, early years and finance teams as well as staff in schools for the accuracy of the data provided.

The Chairman would like to register his appreciation and thanks to Phil Gregory from Chestnut Primary School, Phillip Mantell who has become a Diocese Director and Jean Wilder who have all stood down from The Schools Forum for their hard work and support in the past.

The Chairman will write to Jean Wilder to ask TGA for nominations for primary governor representatives for the Schools Forum

The overall intention is not to change the primary and secondary school funding formula. There will be a consultation on changing one aspect of the special, schools funding formula. This will be the introduction of a differential in the BESD category with a  BESD 1 band and a higher BESD 2 band for funding in special schools.

The Finance Manager updated on SBR2 returns. The overall level of school balances had followed historical patterns and increased from the SBR1 returns. SBR 2 forecast returns show projected balances at £2.3m

The Finance Manager to bring completed figures to Schools Forum in February. 

BAR 2012

19 January 2012

1 March 2012

14 June 2012

Schools Forum

9 February 2012

22 March 2012

28 June 2012

The Forum agreed the following future meeting dates:

Bar 2012

19 January 2012

1 March 2012

14 June 2012

Schools Forum

9 February 2012

22 March 2012

28 June 2012