No disclosures of interest in matters under consideration were received.

The Chair explained at the beginning of the 11 January meeting that the minutes of the 7 December Forum meeting are not available for presentation due to the volume of work that has been required preparing for this meeting and he asked the Business Advisor to prioritise this. The minutes will be presented to the March meeting. It was explained that specific matters arising relating to the December meeting related to information requests however, are reported back within this agenda.

No resolution was passed on this item.

There are no new allocations for consideration at this meeting.

No resolution was passed on this item.

The Business Advisor (Schools) will present a report, Document GZ, which provides a briefing and worked through impact modelling in response the DfE’s announcement of its 2^nd stage of consultation on its National Funding Formula proposals for the Schools and High Needs Blocks. It is anticipated that the Schools Forum will consider a response to this consultation at the March meeting (the deadline for responses is the 22 March).

Recommended –

The Forum is asked to note and to discuss the information provided with reference particularly to the decisions that are required now for the 2017/18 DSG allocation.

(Andrew Redding – 01274 432678)

At the beginning of the 11 January meeting, the Chair stressed the toughness of the decisions that will need to be made by the Schools Forum. He stressed that these decisions focus on the position of the High Needs Block and the option for the ‘strategic reset’ of the DSG to enable the creation of new additional high needs places, now in the context of National Funding Formula, by moving monies in 2017/18 from the Schools Block. This is the culmination of the Forum’s considerations over the autumn term (and earlier).

The Chair asked the Business Advisor (Schools) to update Members on the crucial announcements that have been made since the 7 December meeting and to confirm the position of the 2017/18 DSG. The Chair impressed on Members the importance of their understanding what is a very complicated picture. As such, the 11 January meeting is seen as an information presentation and questions meeting, with the Forum returning to make its recommendations on 18 January. The Chair asked Members to think about how they can gather feedback from school colleagues on these issues before 18 January meeting and to do this where they can.

The Business Advisor presented the Authority’s analysis of the National Funding Formula, Document GZ, beginning by reminding Members of the matters that the Schools Forum has considered across the autumn term and the estimates  and ‘educated guesses’ that the Authority had made around the potential impact of National Funding Formula and key watch areas. The Business Advisor gave a summary of the key announcements that have been made and what these do to confirm our understanding of Bradford’s financial position in 2017/18 and beyond, referring to:

• The DfE’s National Funding Formula 2^nd stage consultation announcement of 14 December 2016
• The DfE’s announcement on early years funding reform of 1 December 2016
• The National Audit Office’s report on the real terms value of education funding, published on 14 December 2016
• The DfE’s announcement on 2017/18 DSG allocations for local authorities, made on 20 December.

The Business Advisor also presented (in response to the requests made in December):

• A document, which set out more data on how Bradford’s financial and High Needs Block position compares with the national picture.
• A document, which provided more detailed analysis of the position of unfilled high needs places in Bradford in 2016/17.
• A document, which provides an outline view of the High Needs Block over the next 5 years. Following initial consideration, the Forum asked for a more detailed picture of this, which was presented to the 18 January meeting.

In response to the presentation of this information, on 11 January, Forum members made the following main comments and asked the following main questions:

• What is the cash value of the funding of unfilled high needs places in 2016/17? The Business Advisor stated that this is estimated to be £675,000. It is expected that the value of funding related to unfilled places continues to be minimised.
• That the National Funding Formula  ...  view the full minutes text for item 233.

The Business Advisor (Schools) will present a report, Document HA, which updates members on the position of the Dedicated Schools Grant for the 2017/18 financial year. This is a main reference document for this meeting. This report also includes further exploration of the ‘options’, as agreed at the last Forum meeting.

Resolved –

The Forum is asked to note the information provided. This will inform decisions and recommendations to be taken under agenda item 11.

 (Andrew Redding – 01274 432678)

The Business Advisor (Schools) presented the report, Document HA, to the 11 January meeting, which updated members on the position of the Dedicated Schools Grant for the 2017/18 financial year. He explained that the critical aspect of the School Forum’s discussion will be how the £7.02m pressure within the High Needs Block in 2017/18 is to be resolved. He explained how the £7.02m pressure is created and why this is different from the £6.8m figure presented to the December meeting.

The Chair emphasised to Members that the Forum must recommend a balanced DSG to the Council. Within this, the Forum must be careful to understand the value of reserve being deployed in 2017/18.

The Business Advisor, using an options document tabled on the day on 11 January meeting, explained the range of options that have been considered and are being put forward for the management of the £7.02m pressure. He explained that, of the 6 main options, 3 of these have been discounted, leaving 3 for consideration (referred to as options 2, 3 and 4):

·         Option 2: Transfer the £2.1m headroom from the Schools to the High Needs Block, taking £4.9m of spending out of the High Needs Block.

·         Option 3: Transfer a total of £4.5m from the Schools to the High Needs Block (£2.1m headroom; £2.4m explicit contribution), taking £2.5m of spending out of the High Needs Block.

·         Option 4: Transfer a greater sum e.g. £5.6m from the Schools to the High Needs Block (£2.1m headroom; £2.4m explicit contribution; £1.1m further contribution), taking £1.4m of spending out of the High Needs Block.

It was explained that the Forum must consider the impact of these options and also the ‘achievability’ of savings across both the short and longer terms. Much of the Forum’s discussion focused on a) these options in the context of national funding formula in the future and b) the immediate additional pressure that an ‘explicit’ formula funding reduction would produce within delegated budgets. The content of a ‘preferred’ option 4 model became more defined following the Forum’s initial discussion. Following the Forum’s request, an additional report was presented on 18 January, which set out a fully worked through option 4 method for balancing the 2017/18 DSG. A further additional report was also presented to the 18 January meeting, which provided a more detailed view of the potential impact on the PRUs (within option 4) of a reduction in the value of direct ranges funding for pupils without EHCPs.

On 11 January, the Business Advisor explained how the confirmed 2017/18 DSG Schools Block position is different from what was previously estimated due to the changes in data that have been recorded by schools in the October 2016 census. The reduction in the FSM% in the primary phase was particularly highlighted. In response to this, Members asked for further analysis to be presented to the 18 January meeting. Following consideration of this, Members asked for an analysis of the difference in FSM% between reception and year 6 to be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 234.

The Business Advisor (Schools) will present an analysis, Document HB, which updates members on the position of 2016/17 funds and the value of one off funding available. This is a repeat of the information presented to the Forum on 7 December (and is provided for reference).

Recommended –

The Forum is asked to note the information provided. This will inform decisions and recommendations to be taken under agenda item 11.

(Andrew Redding – 01274 432678)

The Business Advisor (Schools) presented an analysis on 11 January, Document HB, which updated members on the position of 2016/17 funds and the value of one off funding available. It was explained that this is purely a repeat of the information presented to the Forum on 7 December (and is provided only for reference).

Resolved –

That the information contained in Document HB be noted.

The Business Advisor (Schools) will present a report, Document HC, which sets out the position of the funding of Schools and Early Years Block central and de-delegated items from the DSG, to enable Members to make recommendations and decisions under agenda item 11.

Recommended –

The Forum is asked to note the information provided. This will inform decisions and recommendations to be taken under agenda item 11.

(Andrew Redding – 01274 432678)

The Business Advisor (Schools) presented in summary the report on 11 January, Document HC, which set out the position of the funding of Schools and Early Years Block central and de-delegated items from the DSG, to enable Members to make recommendations and decisions under agenda item 11. This document was returned to on 18 January within the decision making, which is recorded at the end of these minutes.

Resolved –

That the information contained in Document HC be noted.

The Business Advisor (Schools) will present a report, Document HD, which shows the indicative value of delegated allocations for individual schools, academies and other settings for the 2017/18 financial year and also shows the draft Primary and Secondary and Early Years Pro-formas. Please note that the allocations and the Pro-formas are subject to the final decisions and recommendations to be made by the Schools Forum under agenda item 11.

Recommended –

The Forum is asked to note the information provided. This will inform decisions and recommendations to be taken under agenda item 11.

(Andrew Redding – 01274 432678)

The Business Advisor (Schools) presented the report on 11 January, Document HD, which showed the indicative value of delegated allocations for individual schools, academies and early years and high needs settings for the 2017/18 financial year and also shows the draft Primary and Secondary and Early Years Pro-formas. A number of additional models showing the impact of different options on primary and secondary schools and academies were presented to the Forum across the 2 meetings. The minutes (deliberately) do not record the questions asked by Members seeking clarification on the modelling.

On 11 January a request was made for further information on the reduction in (cessation of) the Education Services Grant allocations for academies. This was presented on 18 January.

On 11 January a key line of inquiry by Forum members was how the movement of a substantial amount of DSG monies out of the Schools Block to the High Needs Block in 2017/18 will affect the value of the 3% protection allocated to schools in the future under National Funding Formula. The Business Advisor explained that this was very complicated, but that his modelling had shown that the DSG in total would not gain or lose as a result of such a transfer, but that the benefit would be ‘locked in’ to the High Needs Block in the future rather than in the Schools Block. Meaning that the value of 3% protection allocation to schools on this factor would be lower (and under option 4 would be the most affected) but that the base starting point for the High Needs Block would be higher.

Resolved –

That the information contained in Document HD (and additional information presented on 18 January) be noted.

The Business Advisor (Schools) will present Document HE, which summarises the decisions and recommendations that the Schools Forum is asked to make in setting the allocation of the DSG and final formula funding arrangements for the 2017/18 financial year. The Forum will be asked to take decisions / make recommendations on the items listed under the following main headings:

·         Schools and Early Years Block Central and De-Delegated Items

·         Growth Fund Allocations

·         The High Needs Block

·         The Allocation of Available One Off Monies

·         Early Years Funding and Pro-Forma

·         Primary & Secondary Funding and Pro-Forma

Recommended –

The Forum is asked to make final recommendations and decisions on the allocation of the 2017/18 DSG and the one off monies available.

(Andrew Redding – 01274 432678)

The Business Advisor (Schools) presented on the 11 January, Document HE, which summarised the decisions and recommendations that the Schools Forum is asked to make in setting the allocation of the DSG and final formula funding arrangements for the 2017/18 financial year. The Forum was asked to take decisions / make recommendations on the items listed under the following main headings:

·         Schools and Early Years Block Central and De-Delegated Items

·         Growth Fund Allocations

·         The High Needs Block

·         The Allocation of Available One Off Monies

·         Early Years Funding and Pro-Forma

·         Primary & Secondary Funding and Pro-Forma

Please note that the ‘option 4’ that is referred to in the list of decisions list  below relates to the Document 3 that was presented to the Schools Forum meeting 18 January 2017.

Recommended –

Please note that the ‘option 4’ that is referred to in this decisions list relates to the Document 3 that was presented to the Schools Forum meeting 18 January 2017.

1.         SCHOOLS & EARLY YEARS BLOCKS CENTRAL AND DE-DELEGATED ITEMS 2017/18

FUNDS FOR THE 2017/18 FINANCIAL YEAR AGREED BY SCHOOLS AND ACADEMIES MEMBERS ON A RELEVANT PHASE SPECIFIC BASIS (EARLY YEARS, PRIMARY AND SECONDARY):

Resolved –

(1)  Schools Forum Costs: agreed to continue the DSG budget at the 2016/17 value of £10,000.

(2)  School Admissions: agreed to continue the DSG budget at the 2016/17 value of £577,600.

(3)  DSG Matched Contribution to School Improvement: agreed to ratify the decision already made by the Schools Forum on 6 January 2016, but with the additional amendment agreed within the application of ‘option 4’, to

a.    Continue for the period 1 April 2017 to 31 August 2017 at reduced values (the values for the period 1 April 2015 to 31 August 2015 reduced by 25%) plus a further reduction of £24,121 (from the application of adjustment no. 9 under ‘option 4’).

b.    Cease at 31 August 2017, with the sums released to Primary, Secondary and Early Years delegated budgets in 2017/18 and 2018/19.

(4)  Education Services Grant Centrally Retained Duties: agreed to passport to the Local Authority’s budget 95% of the ESG Centrally Retained Duties Grant that has been transferred into the DSG Schools Block, at £1.331m in 2017/18, in support of the statutory duties delivered by the Local Authority on behalf of all state funded schools and academies. This incorporates the 5% reduction agreed within the application of ‘option 4’ (adjustment no. 8).

(5)  Early Years Single Formula Adjustments: agreed to hold a contingency of £200,000 within the EYSFF (Early Years Block) to meet the costs of in year adjustments relating to the termly recalculation of nursery funding and any specific EYSFF exceptional circumstances allocations.

SCHOOLS MEMBERS REPRESENTING MAINTAINED SCHOOLS ONLY AGREED THE FOLLOWING VALUES OF DE-DELEGATED FUNDS AS PER DOCUMENT HC AND ITS APPENDICES 1 AND 2 FOR THE 2017/18 FINANCIAL YEAR:

(6)  ESBD School Support (Primary only): continue de-delegation from the primary phase at the 2016/17 per pupil value.

(7)  Costs of FSM Eligibility Assessments: continue de-delegation from both the primary  ...  view the full minutes text for item 238.

No resolution was passed on this item.

SUMMARY OF ADDITIONAL REPORTS PRESENTED BY THE BUSINESS ADVISER (SCHOOLS).

No resolution was made on this item.

A provisional meeting has been planned (subject to this being needed to complete agenda item 11 and / or to further discuss the DfE’s announcement of National Funding Formula) to take place on Wednesday 18 January 2017.

The next substantive Forum meeting is planned for Wednesday 15 March 2017.

(a) Denotes an item for action

(i) Denotes an item for information

The next meeting of the Schools Forum is Wednesday 15 March 2017.