Recommended –

That the minutes of the meeting held on 10 July 2019 be signed as a correct record (previously circulated).

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

·         Item 410 page 3 (Matters Raised by Schools) – This item returns to this meeting as a substantive item (agenda item 14).

·         Item 412 page 4 (Chair and Vice Chair Election) – The agreed process for the collection of nominations was completed. The nominations put forward were for Dianne Richardson as Chair and Ian Morrel as Vice Chair, so an election was not required. Diane and Ian continue in their positions for the 2019/20 academic year.

·         Item 413 page 4 (Schools Forum Membership) – For the Forum’s awareness, the DfE has not yet announced any changes to the composition or regulations governing School Forums for next year.

·         Item 414 page 6 (SEND & SEMH Reviews Update) – An update is provided at agenda item 6. This includes the establishment of the requested cross-phase working group. The briefing note on the development of the Behaviour Centres and District PRU will be published on BSO this week.

·         Item 415 page 7 (SEND Call for Evidence) – The final submission on this is presented for Members within the reports pack. No further comments were submitted after the meeting and prior to the submission of the Forum’s agreed response.

·         Item 416 page 8 (Report on PFI Costs) – The Forum has agreed to take a ‘watching brief’ on this matter. The National Funding Formula (NFF) announcements made so far indicate a continuation of the current DSG arrangements in 2020/21. These announcements do not give any indication of possible changes in the NFF approach in future years.

·         Item 417 page 9 (NFF and DSG) – This is covered under agenda item 7. Members are asked to book themselves onto one of the scheduled FFWG sessions.

c) Other Matters Arising, reported by the Business Advisor as follows:

·         We would like to warn primary-phase maintained school representatives that, as last year, because of the timescales needed to confirm subscription, these Members will be asked at the next meeting on 16 October whether they wish to de-delegate for the purposes of subscribing to Fischer Family Trust. As such, it will be helpful for them to have collected feedback from colleagues in advance of this. We will send an email to Members following this meeting to help with this.

·         The response received from Lord Agnew on the Chair letter regarding the insufficiency of high needs capital is copied in the agenda pack (orange page 11). The announcements on 2020/21 arrangements made so far do not cover high needs capital funds.

·         The final position of brought forward balances within the DSG by block at 31 March 2019 is presented on page 13 (pink) for Members’ reference.  The only change from the position presented in May is the confirmation of our Early Years Block Funding for 2018/19, which has adjusted the EYB BFB by £78k. The forecast of balances remaining at the end of this current financial year will be presented, as usual, in December.

·         For the Forum’s awareness - the DfE’s has launched a consultation on measures proposed to “improve transparency of the financial health of maintained schools”. This consultation closes on 30 September and final measures are expected to be introduced for 2020/21. A copy of the document is included in the agenda pack (purple page 15). 

·         For the Forum’s awareness – the DfE has launched a consultation on permitting maintained schools to access the academy sector’s Risk Protection Arrangement. A copy of the document is included in the agenda pack (orange page 57).

Resolved –

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

(2)       That subject to the attendance of Alison Kaye being amended from attendance to non attendance with apologies, the minutes of the meeting held on 10 July 2019 be signed as a correct record.

ACTION:       City Solicitor