The City Solicitor 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.

Recommended –

That the minutes of the meeting held on 25 December 2018 be signed as a correct record (previously circulated).

a) To agree the minutes of 5 December 2018 as a correct record.

b) The Business Advisor (Schools) reported on progress made on “Action” items as follows:

·         That the Virtual School’s annual report to the Corporate Parenting Board, to be published in January, be shared with the Schools Forum in March. The Vice Chair also requested clarification to be provided on how schools are permitted to spend their Pupil Premium Plus monies (to employ staff not just ‘spend on pupils’).

·         That the requested conversation with Beckfoot Academies Trust regarding the financial model for Beckfoot Upper Heaton Academy will take place shortly and will be reported back.

c) Other Matters Arising:

·         The Business Advisor introduced the 3 additional documents presented to the meeting under matters arising:

o   a summary of decision making powers (for reference),

o   the DfE’s letter of 17 December setting out additional capital and revenue high needs monies as well as information regarding the SEND free schools programme, and

o   the Local Authority’s outline plan for the creation of additional specialist places during 2019.

·         Regarding the DfE’s additional revenue funding announcement, a Member observed that the national problem regarding the sufficiency of funding of high needs appears now finally to be recognised. However, both the Member and the Deputy Director, Education and Skills, also observed that £250m of additional revenue funding is not sufficient to meet an estimated £1bn national gap nor does this secure sufficient resources to meet growing needs in the future. The Business Advisor also stressed that the allocation of the £250m has been done in blanket fashion across authorities without reference to the impact of NFF damping, which means that the fundamental issue we face around the impact of this damping is not eased.

·         Regarding the DfE’s announcement of an additional £100m of capital funding, Members agreed that the ‘devil will be in the detail’. The lack of capital resource has been a barrier to our development of additional specialist places capacity and we would be looking for a significant injection of additional funding from this £100m. We estimated that we may expect to receive at least 1.1% of this national pot.

·         Regarding the DfE’s announcement about the release of the next wave of SEND free schools, the Deputy Director expressed caution as the DfE’s application of the ‘criteria’ for successful bids will be crucial in our securing of a new ASD provision. The timescale for the delivery of this school is also long-term.

·         The Deputy Director introduced the outline plan for the creation of an additional 354 specialist places in 2019 across special schools, existing delegated resourced provisions, new delegated resourced provisions and new ARC provisions (where staffing is managed centrally and deployed flexibly). The Intelligence & Sufficiency Manager more fully explained the plan, and the data behind this, stressing that the delivery of this plan is subject to the completion of consultation and statutory processes.

In response to questions about where these places are being developed, the Intelligence & Sufficiency Manager explained that a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 382.

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

No resolution was passed on this item.

There are no new allocations for consideration at this meeting for 2018/19.

No resolution was passed on this item.

The Business Advisor (Schools) will present a report, Document JZ, which updates members on the position of the Dedicated Schools Grant for the 2019/20 financial year. This is a main reference document for this meeting.

Recommended –

The Forum is asked to note the information provided. This will inform decisions and recommendations to be taken under agenda item 10.

(Andrew Redding – 01274 432678)

The Business Advisor (Schools) presented a report, Document JZ, which updated members on the position of the Dedicated Schools Grant for the 2019/20 financial year. This was a main reference document for this meeting.

The majority of the Forum’s discussion on the DSG position as outlined, linked into the previous discussion on the creation of additional specialist places, was in reference to the High Needs Block and the future deficit trajectory. The Business Advisor stressed that a longer term structural solution was necessary and critical in this was the release of the national funding formula damping. He emphasised that the lack of certainty around the DSG’s position from April 2020 is a significant issue. Members recognised this and also that this was just one of a number of uncertainties and areas of risk going forward in DSG and school funding that are wrapped around the 2019 Spending Review (including teacher’s pay and funding, teacher’s pensions and funding and the funding of maintained nursery schools).

Resolved –

That the information contained in Document JZ be noted.

The Business Advisor (Schools) will present an analysis, Document KA, which updates members on the estimated value of 2018/19 carry forward balances (one off funding) available.

Recommended –

The Forum is asked to note the information provided. This will inform decisions and recommendations to be taken under agenda item 10.

(Andrew Redding – 01274 432678)

The Business Advisor (Schools) presented an analysis, Document KA, which updated members on the estimated value of 2018/19 carry forward balances (one off funding) available.

Resolved –

That the information contained in Document KA be noted.

The Business Advisor (Schools) will present a report, Document KB (Appendices 1, 2 and 3), which sets out the position of the funding of Schools, Central Schools and Early Years Block central and de-delegated items, to enable Members to make recommendations and decisions under agenda item 10. This information is updated on that presented in 5 December.

Recommended –

The Forum is asked to note the information provided. This will inform decisions and recommendations to be taken under agenda item 10.

(Andrew Redding – 01274 432678)

The Business Advisor (Schools) presented a report, Document KB (Appendices 1,2 and 3), which set out the position of the funding of Schools, Central Schools and Early Years Block central and de-delegated items, to enable Members to make recommendations and decisions under agenda item 10 (minute 385). This information was updated on that presented in 5 December.

Resolved –

That the information contained in Document KB Appendices 1-3 be noted.

The Business Advisor (Schools) will present a report, Document KC (Appendices 1 -5), which shows the indicative value of delegated allocations for individual schools, academies and other settings for the 2019/20 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 10.

Recommended –

The Forum is asked to note the information provided. This will inform decisions and recommendations to be taken under agenda item 10.

(Andrew Redding – 01274 432678)

The Business Advisor (Schools) presented a report, Document KC (Appendices 1 -5), which showed the indicative values of delegated allocations for individual schools, academies and other settings for the 2019/20 financial year and also shows the draft Primary and Secondary and Early Years Pro-formas.

In considering the information presented on the impact of data change recorded within the October 2018 Census, the Chair emphasised that primary schools need to continue to look closely at the identification of FSM for children in reception and key stage 1 for the purpose of securing accurate Pupil Premium Grant allocations.

The Vice Chair asked for clarification on why some primary and secondary schools and academies are funded above the level of the Minimum Funding Guarantee. The Business Advisor explained that this was primarily a mixture of NFF benefit and change in October Census data.

Resolved –

That the information contained in Document KC Appendices 1-5 be noted.

The Business Advisor (Schools) will present Document KD (and Appendices 1-5), 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 2019/10 financial year. The Forum will be asked to take decisions / make recommendations on the items listed under the following main headings:

·         Schools Block Centrally Managed Funds

·         Early Years Block Centrally Managed Funds

·         The Central Schools Services Block

·         The High Needs Block

·         The Allocation & Retention of forecasted Balances Brought Forward

·         Early Years Single Funding Formula and Pro-Forma

·         Primary & Secondary Formula Funding and Pro-Forma

Recommended –

The Forum is asked to make final recommendations and decisions on the allocation of the 2019/20 DSG and the one off monies available.

(Andrew Redding – 01274 432678)

The Business Advisor (Schools) presented Document KD (and Appendices 1-5), which summarised the decisions and recommendations that the Schools Forum was asked to make in setting the allocation of the DSG and final formula funding arrangements for the 2019/10 financial year. The Forum was requested to take decisions / make recommendations on the items listed under the following main headings:

·         Schools Block Centrally Managed Funds

·         Early Years Block Centrally Managed Funds

·         The Central Schools Services Block

·         The High Needs Block

·         The Allocation & Retention of forecasted Balances Brought Forward

·         Early Years Single Funding Formula and Pro-Forma

·         Primary & Secondary Formula Funding and Pro-Forma

Resolved –

1.         Schools Block Centrally Managed Funds 2019/20

Schools Block De-Delegated Funds

Document KB Appendices 1 – 3.

1.1 Schools Members representing maintained primary & secondary schools agreed the values of de-delegated funds on a phase-specific basis with contributions to be taken from 2019/20 formula funding allocations as per Document KB and its appendices.

a)    School Re-Organisation Costs (Safeguarded Salaries) (Primary & Secondary): agreed to continue de-delegation from both the primary and secondary phases for the actual cost of continuing safeguarded salaries in maintained primary and secondary schools.

b)   School Re-Organisation Costs (Sponsored conversions budget deficits) (Primary only): agreed to de-delegate from the primary phase at the 2018/19 per pupil value. The Schools Forum will be provided with monitoring reports where this provision is used. A report will be provided to the March 2019 meeting on the allocation of the current fund / brought forward balance in support of the primary schools that have converted in autumn 2018 with deficit balances.

c)    Exceptional Costs & Schools in Financial Difficulty (Primary only): agreed to continue de-delegation from the primary phase at the 2018/19 per pupil value. Members also agreed and noted that there is no ‘positive’ separate additional provision made for the conclusion of the Forum’s discussions on financial support for Falling Rolls / Under-Subscription. Where the Forum agrees that additional financial support should be provided to eligible maintained primary schools from de-delegated funds in 2019/20, this will need to be financed either from brought forward balances within primary phase de-delegated funds or via a retrospective contribution taken through de-delegation from primary maintained school allocations in 2020/21.

d)   Costs of FSM Eligibility Assessments (Primary & Secondary): agreed to continue de-delegation from both the primary and secondary phases at the 2018/19 per FSM values, with contributions taken using FSM Ever 6 data.

e)    Fisher Family Trust (Primary only): agreed to continue de-delegation from the primary phase, recovering the cash value to match the actual cost. The secondary phase and all primary academies will be invited to subscribe through the Local Authority (paying for this from their delegated budgets via invoice). Please note that the Schools Members representing maintained primary schools decided on 17 October 2018 to continue de-delegation in 2019/20 for the purposes of subscribing to FFT. As such, this decision is repeated here only for reference and completeness.

f)     Trade Union Facilities Time – Negotiator Time (Primary & Secondary): agreed to continue de-delegation  ...  view the full minutes text for item 389.

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

The Deputy Director, Education and Skills, reported verbally that communication has just been received from the DfE on the outcome of the interviews for the establishment of the new SEMH School. The DfE has confirmed its decision not to appoint from these interviews. The Chair asked what this now meant for the establishment of the SEHM School. The Deputy Director stated that this will need to be discussed further with the DfE as we have now been unsuccessful in two recruitment processes and are in somewhat ‘unchartered territory’.

Resolved –

That the update given verbally on the position of the SEMH Free School be noted.

A provisional meeting has been planned (subject to this being needed to complete agenda item 10) to take place on Wednesday 16 January 2019.

The next substantive Forum meeting is planned for Wednesday 13 March 2019.

(a) Denotes an item for action

(i)  Denotes an item for information

The next meeting of the Schools Forum was scheduled for Wednesday 13 March 2019.

Please note that the provisional meeting scheduled for 16 January 2019 was not required and was cancelled.

FROM: Parveen Akhtar

City Solicitor

            City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council

Committee Secretariat

Contact Asad Shah:  01274 432280