Agenda, decisions and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

To provide an opportunity for Members and Officers to declare any disclosable pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests in any item on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

In accordance with Procedure Rules Nos.11 and 35 a period of 10 minutes is allocated for members of the public to address the meeting on any matter relating to the work of the body in question.  Individual members of the public may speak for up to 5 minutes but the Chairman or person presiding will decide how the period of time allocated for public speaking will be apportioned where there are a number of speakers. Members of the public are not required to give notice to use this facility. However, as a matter of courtesy, a period of 24 hours’ notice is encouraged.

Members of the public wishing to ask a question at the meeting should provide at least three clear working days’ notice in writing and should include the question with that notice. This will enable an informed answer to be given.

No members of the public were present.

That consideration be given to the Schools Funding Formula for 2015/16.

That the 2015-16 Schools Funding Formula, as proposed by the Schools Forum, be endorsed.

The report set out the Schools Forum’s proposals for the 2015-16 Schools Funding Formula whereby all additional monies received in Dedicated Schools Grant are allocated through the Schools Funding Formula using the Age Weighted Pupil Factor (AWPU), that the current funding formula factors are maintained, and that the Council continues the rural proofing strategy for schools.

It was reported that the Department for Education (DfE) had announced additional funding for the 2015-16 Dedicated Schools Grant and this had been discussed and endorsed by the Schools Forum; the final formula had to be submitted to the DfE by 21 January 2015. The proposals maintained all existing formula factors at their current levels, including the amounts allocated for deprivation, basic Special Educational Needs (SEN) and lump sum. It was also proposed that the rural proofing fund continue to be supported for a second year; this allocated £150,000 to those small and rural schools which provided a hub for the community. This budget did not come from the DSG but was earmarked from within the Education strategy base budget.

The Government had published revised minimum funding levels (MFLs) and clearly stated its intention to move towards a National Funding Formula in the future, although not for 2015-16; the consultation findings on this had resulted in some changes to the proposals the initial consequence of which was that the Cheshire East allocation had increased from £4.7m to £5.7m. In the consultation the Government did make it clear that there was NO requirement on local authorities to use these MFLs, and schools should not assume they would be getting budgets calculated using these formula factor values.

The Schools Forum had also approved a new policy for clawback of surplus balances although Schools could create earmarked reserves to hold money for specific projects, which took that money out of the surplus balance calculation for clawback.

The Portfolio Holder thanked both the Schools Forum and Finance Officers for the work they had done in respect of the funding formula, and especially welcomed the retention of rural proofing. 

RESOLVED

That the 2015-16 Schools Funding Formula, as proposed by the Schools Forum, be endorsed.

To consider the power to grant discretionary awards for the 2015/15 academic year.

That approval be given that the Council does not take up the power to grant discretionary awards for the 2015/16 academic year.

The Local Education Authority (Post-Compulsory Education Awards) Regulations 1999 (S.I. 1999/229) require LEAs to make an annual determination in respect of their powers to make awards to students. The determination must be made before the start of the following financial year.

The requirement to make an annual determination applies regardless of whether an LA has previously determined that it will not exercise its power to offer awards.  This position had remained unchanged since 2000/01 and no new awards have been made since then. National schemes have developed to provide funding to various categories of post 16 students who would previously have looked to the local authority for support.

RESOLVED

That approval be given that the Council does not take up the power to grant discretionary awards for the 2015/16 academic year.