The Business Advisor (Schools) will present a report, Document JN, which asks the Forum to review the position of Central Schools Block, Schools Block and Early Years Block central funds and de-delegated items in 2019/20.

Recommended –

The Forum is asked to review the position of Central Schools Block, Schools Block and Early Years Block central funds and de-delegated items, to indicate what further consideration should be given / review work should take place, in advance of making final recommendations for 2019/20 at the January 2019 meeting.

Members representing Maintained Primary Schools are asked to decide on de-delegation in 2019/20 for the purposes of purchasing subscriptions to Fischer Family Trust.

(Andrew Redding – 01274 432678)

The Business Advisor (Schools) presented a report, Document JN, which asked the Forum to begin to review the position of Central Schools Services Block, Schools Block and Early Years Block central funds and de-delegated items for 2019/20. Members representing maintained primary schools were asked also to agree the continuation in 2019/20 of de-delegation for the purpose of subscribing to Fischer Family Trust (FFT).

In his presentation, the Business Advisor highlighted the benchmarking information in Appendix 1, explaining that the most significant difference in the position of de-delegation from maintained schools in Bradford, compared with that in other authorities, is Bradford’s maternity and paternity ‘insurance’ scheme. It is expected that this scheme will continue for nursery and primary schools in 2019/20 and that, as previously warned, its viability will continue to be reviewed annually. The Business Advisor also highlighted for Members that they will be asked at a future meeting to consider / agree the use of the de-delegated fund held specifically to support the cost of deficit balances of sponsored primary schools that have converted to academy status in the autumn 2018 term.

The Business Advisor asked the Schools Members representing maintained primary schools to vote on the proposal to continue to de-delegate in 2019/20 for the purposes of subscribing to FFT. This was approved by 7 votes for to 1 vote against.

The Business Advisor asked Members for any additional comments on centrally managed funds currently held and on the outline proposals in the report for the continuation of these funds in 2019/20.

An Academies Member highlighted that the per pupil cost of trade union facilities time arrangements in Bradford remains higher than in other authorities. The Business Advisor responded to explain that the Schools Forum has discussed this on a number of occasions, having most recently considered a detailed value for money analysis of our arrangements in March 2018. The Forum concluded at this time that our existing level of spending should continue. The Member representing the teacher trades unions added that the main reasons for our slightly higher per pupil spending are the release in Bradford of teachers and headteachers and the additional health and safety facilities time that is provided, where some academies choose not to buy back this health and safety element.  Another Academies Member asked whether there was a relationship between the value per pupil de-delegated from maintained schools and the charge for academies to buy into the Council’s arrangements. The Business Advisor explained that the charge to academies is set at the de-delegation contribution value so these are directly linked. Forum Members engaged in a discussion about how best to satisfy the points that have been raised and it was agreed that the value for money analysis, presented to the Forum in March, be re-presented for the Forum’s consideration in December.

Resolved –

(1)  Agreed that de-delegation from maintained primary schools, for the purposes of subscribing to Fischer Family Trust, be continued in 2019/20. This was approved by the vote of Forum Members representing maintained primary schools.

(2)  That the value for money analysis of the DSG funded Trade Union Facility Time arrangements, considered by the Schools Forum in May 2018, be updated and re-issued for the Forum’s consideration at the next meeting.

LEAD:                        Business Advisor (Schools)