The Business Advisor (Schools) will report the names of alternate Members who are attending the meeting in place of appointed Members.

To receive disclosures of interests from Members on matters to be considered at the meeting. The disclosure must include the nature of the interest.

An interest must also be disclosed in the meeting when it only becomes apparent to the member during the meeting.

150.     DISCLOSURES OF INTEREST

         I.      A declaration was received from Nicky Kilvington for agenda item 5 “Standing Item – DSG Growth Fund Allocations”, (minute 153).

       II.      During the course of the meeting and in the interests of transparency, a declaration was received from Ian Morrel agenda item 9 “Review of SEND and Behaviour Support Provisions”, (minute 157).

ACTION:         City Solicitor

Recommended –

That the minutes of the meeting held on 16 March 2016 be signed as a correct record (previously circulated).

The Business Advisor (Schools) explained that the single action item from the 16 March meeting was the submission of the Authority’s response on the National Funding Formula consultation, with the inclusion of the agreed items of consensus that were recorded in the minutes.

The Business Advisor explained that the Authority’s response to the consultation was submitted and this response is included in the pack of papers for this meeting. Members requested that this response be posted on Bradford Schools Online. He added that a number of other (perhaps more “authority-driven” responses) that have been seen are very similar to ours in questioning a number of the key building blocks being proposed by the DfE, such as removing all local decision making from the Schools Block and ending the ability of authorities to manage High Needs Block pressures by taking further contributions from the Schools Block.

It was reported that we currently await the DfE’s response and 2^nd stage consultation, which we anticipate will provide the detail on which to model impact. Depending on the timing of this publication, it is expected that the 2^nd stage consultation will be included as an agenda item for the July Schools Forum meeting. If the 2^nd stage consultation is published before the end of May however, waiting to July may not be wise and we will discuss with Chair and Vice Chair whether another Forum meeting should be scheduled.

Referring to an action item from a previous meeting (minute 144), the Chair reported that he and the Vice Chair have met with the Education Improvement Strategy Board to discuss the SEND matters that have been presented to the Schools Forum.

Resolved –

(1)        That progress made on “Matters Arising” be noted.

(2)        That the minutes of the meeting held on 16 March 2016 be signed as a correct record.

ACTION:         City Solicitor

Members will be asked to consider any issues raised by schools.

Members will be asked to consider a specific matter under agenda item 12, which is put forward as closed agenda item, where the public and non-officially recognised observers will be asked to leave the meeting.

There were no matters raised by schools to report.

No resolution was passed on this item.

Members will be asked to consider, in Document FX, newly proposed allocations to schools and academies from the established DSG Growth Fund in 2016/17.

Recommended –

That the Schools Forum is asked to agree the proposed Growth Fund allocations shown in Document FX.

(Andrew Redding – 01274 432678)

Members were asked to consider, in Document FX, newly proposed allocations to schools and academies from the established DSG Growth Fund in 2016/17.

The Principal Finance Officer (Schools) gave a synopsis of the report.

A Member expressed concerns about the impact of expansion on standards in one of the proposed schools, adding that the impact of expansion on individual expanding schools is frequently discussed by the Bradford Primary Improvement Partnership.  The Deputy Director, Education, Employment and Skills responded that it is essential to create places where these are needed and that the Authority will continue to work with schools and the partnerships in raising standards.

Resolved –

That the proposed Growth Fund allocations shown in Document FX be agreed.

ACTION: Business Advisor (Schools)

The minutes of the most recent Bradford Education Improvement Commissioning Board meetings will be presented for information and consideration along with written responses to questions submitted by members by email since the last report on BEICB activities.

(Andrew Redding – 01274 432678)

The Business Advisor (Schools) explained that, due to the lack of suitability of format for public access, the minutes of the latest BEICB meetings have not been published yet for members. He also explained that he has not received any written questions from members on BEICB activities and reminded Members that they are able to submit questions by email. A full report on BEICB meetings and activities will be provided to the next Forum meeting in July. 

No resolution was passed on this item.

Members will be asked to approve the proposed approach to the election of the Vice Chair of the Schools Forum for 2016.

(Andrew Redding – 01274 432678)

The Business Advisor (Schools) explained that the period of office of the current Vice Chair (Dianne Rowbotham) is ending and that nominations are sought for this position for 2016/17. The Business Advisor proposed to use the previously established methodology for collecting nominations and running an election, if necessary to do so. It was explained that Dianne is permitted to put her name forward for re-election. Dianne stated that she wishes to do so, adding that, conventionally, the Vice Chair of the Forum has come from the primary-phase representatives where the Chair is from the secondary phase.

Resolved –

That the established approach (email) be followed for the collection of nominations for the election of the Vice Chair of the Schools Forum for 2016/17.

A report will be presented, Document FY, which provides an update on the re-development of the Outdoor Education Centres.

Recommended –

That as a key stakeholder, the Schools Forum is asked for its views concerning the options in this paper in order to inform the Council’s considerations and decision making.

(Terry Davies – 01274 437170)

The Interim Assistant Director, Client Services, presented a report, Document FY, which provided an update on the re-development of the Outdoor Education Centres. The report outlined that the refurbishment works at Ingleborough Hall and Buckden House have been completed and that works at Nell Bank are progressing to a completion date of the end of May. The anticipated capital overspending of £181,000 will be underwritten by the Council, with the expectation that Council will recover this from the Centres in the future.

The Interim Assistant Director explained that recent financial activity (as outlined in the report) clearly evidences the positive impact that refurbishment works have had on the profitability of the Centres that have been refurbished so far and that the position for the future is encouraging. Ingleborough Hall and Buckden House are being managed together and the Council is seeking now to establish a Task and Finish Group to explore a range of future options, including the possibility of a single trust arrangement across the 3 Centres.

The Interim Assistant Director invited Forum members to visit the Centres to see the refurbished facilities.

In the discussion Members asked the following questions and made the following comments:

·       How is the Council financing the current revenue overspend of £40,000? The Interim Assistant Director explained that this will be carried forward into next year’s budget and be offset against income growth.

·       The report doesn’t show the anticipated budget positions for 2016/17; what do these look like? It was explained that the 2016/17 budgets were currently being brought together, but that these look encouraging.

·       How certain is the Council that it will be able to recover the £181,000 from the Centre budgets in future years? The Interim Assistant Director stated that the Council had every expectation that this would be achievable.

·       This is a good news story, with the transformation of the Outdoor Education Centres into sustainable assets for the District. That the Outdoor Centres are a fantastic resource for children with SEND and their families, and that we would now like to see the Centres available more for families e.g. at weekends. It was explained that expansion for weekend opening is currently being developed.

The Strategic Director, Children’s Services, added that the Centres are the ‘jewels in the crown’ of the District and that the Council’s investment (underwriting the £181,000 but wishing to recover this) is to get the final phase of refurbishment across the line. The Council wishes to look seriously now at the establishment of a single trust.

In concluding this item, the Chair re-affirmed that this is a good news story and that the Schools Forum can see the value for money of its investment from the DSG. As such, he suggested that the Forum has now concluded its discussions on this matter.

Resolved –

That the information in Document FY be noted. That updates on the redevelopment of the outdoor education centres now be removed as a standing agenda item.

A report will be presented, Document FZ, which provides a detailed update on SEND provision and Behaviour strategy matters, responding to the action points and requests for information that have made by the Schools Forum and that are recorded in the minutes of previous meetings. The written report summarises the key discussion items in Schools Forum meeting since September 2014. A presentation will be delivered to the meeting, which provides an update on the current position of reviews and other activities.

Recommended –

That Members are asked to consider and respond to the report and the presentation.

(Judith Kirk – 01274 439238)

The Business Advisor (Schools) presented a report, Document FZ, alongside a PowerPoint presentation delivered by the Deputy Director, Education Employment and Skills, which provided an update on SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) provision and Behaviour strategy matters, responding to the action points and requests for information that have were made by the Schools Forum and that were recorded in the minutes of previous meetings. The written report summarised the key discussion items in the Schools Forum meeting since September 2014.

The PowerPoint presentation was the focus of this item. It provided an update on the current position of reviews and other activities, especially focusing on the issue of the sufficiency of places. The Deputy Director explained how the data evidences the higher proportions of pupils in Bradford by primary need compared with the national average (e.g. over x2 the national average for Autism, x2 the national average for sensory impairment, x3 for physical difficulties) and why 360 more specialist provision places are forecasted to be required by 2018/19 in response to demographic growth. 68 places are needed for September 2016. The presentation outlined actions in the urgent short (agreeing how we can access with interim agreements existing capacities to provide for 68 more places), medium (the development of early years provision through a partnership with nursery schools and special school satellite provisions to access mainstream accommodation) and long (the establishment of at least 2 new special schools) term. All these actions have financial implications for the DSG from 2016/17 as the High Needs Block is the source of revenue funding for places. It was explained that work is taking place to ‘triangulate’ all this and to put arrangements in place. The Authority will need to talk to the Forum further about funding.

The Deputy Director explained that this is a major challenge. She also stated that she appreciates concerns that have been expressed previously by the Forum (and by other groups) that the forecasted numbers of additional required places may be understated; what is presented here is a starting position. She also stressed that the Authority will need the support of the Schools Forum and schools to manage this work going forward.

In response to initial questions asked by Members on what work has been done so far to look at financial implications, the Business Advisor (Schools) stated that the financial affordability of the High Needs Block, in the context of this expansion of places (significant increased cost) and the National Funding Formula (possible change in the level of DSG funding allocated to Bradford), is currently the major DSG concern, exacerbated by the uncertainty about future arrangements. This is one of the reasons why the detail is the DfE’s 2^nd stage consultation on the NFF is crucial. We anticipate that this will enable us to calculate what our High Needs Block funding will be in the future, from which we can assess what level of provision we can afford. We will also need to look at our  ...  view the full minutes text for item 29.

The Business Advisor (Schools) will present a report, Document GA, which shows the position of revenue balances held by maintained schools at 31 March 2016. The report also provides initial information on schools’ reporting of surplus balances and a response to request made by Members for information on the anticipated volume of conversions of maintained schools to academy status in Bradford and the likelihood of liabilities resulting from the conversion of schools holding deficit budgets.

Recommended –

That the Schools Forum is asked to note the information provided on school balances. Members are asked then to consider further the issues raised in the report concerning the financial implications of the academisation of maintained schools. Members are to form a view in response to the questions posed about possible financial liabilities created by the conversion process.

(Andrew Redding – 01274 432678)

The Business Advisor (Schools) presented a report, Document GA, which showed the position of revenue balances held by maintained schools as at 31 March 2016. The report also provided initial information on schools’ reporting of surplus balances and a response to request made by Members for information on the anticipated volume of conversions of maintained schools to academy status in Bradford and the likelihood of liabilities resulting from the conversion of schools holding deficit budgets.

The presentation was split into 3 parts:

·         The position of balances held by maintained schools at the end of the 2015/16 financial year and how this has changed from 2014/15 (for information).

·         The numbers of schools holding excess surplus balances and the schemes that have been submitted assigning these balances for Authority approval (for information).

·         Information provided in support of asking the Forum to consider the financial implications of the conversion of maintained schools to academy status (for discussion) and to agree a way of managing these.  This was the focus of the agenda item.

In considering the information presented in the first 2 parts, Members asked the following questions and made the following comments:

·         A Member commented that the balance figures alone do not provide a view of the relative financial pressure faced by schools. The Business Advisor responded to say that he appreciated the limitations of the analysis and that the balances figure themselves do not give a view of the action already taken by schools to make savings and do not provide any assessment of the impact of these actions on standards. The Business Advisor reported that, in his experience, the vast majority of schools have taken / are taking considered action with standards in mind.

·         The Strategic Director, Children’s Services, stated that the Forum needs to be satisfied that the Authority understands why schools are holding larger balances and that the Authority does effectively challenge those that hold ‘excess’ balances. A Member added that the Forum last year delegated responsibility for managing balances to the Authority’s finance team so it is this team that should have a full understanding of the reasons for each school. The Business Advisor responded to provide re-assurance that this is the case, referring to the Authority’s Surplus Balances Protocol and to last summer’s Ofsted inspection, which found that the Authority’s school finance officers ‘know their schools’. A Forum Member added her own experience of working with the Authority on her school’s budget, emphasising that, within vigorous discussions, the impact on standards was always central.

In considering the 3^rd part of the presentation – the financial implications of academy conversions and the management of costs / liabilities - the Business Advisor referred to the questions within report, written to guide the Forum’s discussion, including how best to establish a framework for the management of these.

The Chair stated that the Forum and the Authority should focus on the establishment of a collaborative solution. The Director of Finance explained that Members should think about how deficits  ...  view the full minutes text for item 30.

The Schools Forum will be asked to consider if the item relating to a contract settlement should be considered in the absence of the public and, if so, to approve the following recommendation:

Recommended –

That the public be excluded from the meeting during the discussion of the following item (item *12) on the grounds that it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if they were present exempt information within Paragraph 3 (Financial or Business Affairs) of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) would be disclosed and it is considered that, in all the circumstances, the public interest in allowing the public to remain is outweighed by the public interest in excluding public access to the relevant part of the proceedings for the following reason: “commercial confidentiality".

 (Andrew Redding – 01274 432678)

The Schools Forum was asked to consider if the item relating to a contract settlement (minute *160) should be considered in the absence of the public and, if so, to approve the following recommendation:

Recommended –

That the public be excluded from the meeting during the discussion of the following item (minute *160) on the grounds that it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if they were present exempt information within Paragraph 3 (Financial or Business Affairs) of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) would be disclosed and it is considered that, in all the circumstances, the public interest in allowing the public to remain is outweighed by the public interest in excluding public access to the relevant part of the proceedings for the following reason: “commercial confidentiality".

The Schools Forum will be asked to consider and take a decision on a specific contract settlement matter, details of which will be presented to the meeting.

*Note: The Schools Forum will have previously considered excluding the public from consideration of this matter under item 11 above.

(Andrew Redding – 01274 432678)

The Schools Forum was asked to consider and take a decision on a specific contract settlement matter, details of which were presented to the meeting.

*Note: The Schools Forum previously resolved the excluding of the public from consideration of this matter under minute 159 above.

This resolution is confidential and exempt information under Paragraph 3 (Financial or Business Affairs) of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

Updates on the following Forum standing items will be provided verbally where these have not been covered within other agenda items:

·         Update on Single Status

·         Update from the Schools Financial Performance Group (SFPG)

·         Update from the Early Years Working Group (EYWG)

·         Update from the Formula Funding Working Group (FFWG)

·         Update on Primary School Places

·         Update on Academies & Free Schools

Recommended –

That the Schools Forum be asked to note the information provided.

(Andrew Redding – 01274 432678)

No further updates were presented on the Forum’s standing items.

No resolution was passed on this item.

Members will be asked for any additional items of business, for consideration at a future meeting.

No additional items of business for consideration were tabled.

No resolution was passed on this item.

Please see the published schedule of meetings – Wednesday 6 July 2016.

Please be aware that the dates of meetings for the 2016/17 academic year have been established as follows:

·         Wednesday 21 September 2016

·         Wednesday 19 October  2016

·         Wednesday 7 December 2016

·         Wednesday 11 January 2017

·         Wednesday 18 January 2017  - PROVISIONAL MEETING

·         Wednesday 15 March 2017

·         Wednesday 17 May 2017

·         Wednesday 5 July 2017

Please note all meetings will commence at 0800 in Committee Room 1 at the City Hall, Bradford.

THIS AGENDA AND ACCOMPANYING DOCUMENTS HAVE BEEN PRODUCED, WHEREVER POSSIBLE, ON RECYCLED PAPER

The next meeting of the Schools Forum is Wednesday 6 July 2016.

THESE MINUTES HAVE BEEN PRODUCED, WHEREVER POSSIBLE, ON RECYCLED PAPER

committeesecretariat\minutes\SF\18May