Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Michelle Richards, Ethel Mills, Allan Symons, Peter Largue, Elaine Pickering, Clive Wisby and Mustafaa Malik.

The Forum is asked to approve as a correct record the minutes of the last meeting held on X

The minutes of the last meeting held on 8 March 2018 were agreed as a correct record.

Cllr Haley noted his apologies submitted for the last meeting were not recorded.

Carole Smith, Corporate Resources

The Forum received a report to bring to attention the directed revisions to Gateshead’s Scheme for Financing Schools and to highlight additional amendments in procedures and school status for review before all maintained schools are consulted on the amendments to the Scheme.

It was noted from the report that on 22 March 2018 the Department for Education (DfE) published new statutory guidance for local authorities on the Scheme for Financing Schools.

A summary of the main changes was provided to the Forum highlighting mandatory inclusions in the scheme and updates to the guidance.

A discussion took place regarding the cost for school admission appeals which highlighted that Academies are their own admissions authority and are able to ‘buy in’ legal support for appeals.

It was asked whether redundancy costs fall to the local authority should a school encounter financial difficulties. It was confirmed that there is a criteria that must be met for maintained schools but that this money comes from mainline local authority funding and not the DSG.

RESOLVED

(i)            The Schools Forum reviewed and approved the changes to the Scheme for Financing Schools

(ii)           Schools Forum approved for the Scheme to be consulted on with all maintained schools.

Carole Smith, Corporate Resources

The Forum received a report to provide information on the decision to provide contingency funding to three schools. In addition to the report the Forum received a copy of the current Contingency Funding Criteria.

A summary of each schools circumstance was provided from the report noting that White Mere Primary School, Hill Top Special School and Rowlands Gill Primary school have encountered financial difficulties outside of their control.

Questions were also asked as to how a school is able to set themselves a deficit budget. It was noted that there are certain circumstances in which this can happen provided the school has a financial plan in place. It was further agreed that a report would come to the next Schools Forum to provide additional information on schools setting deficit budgets.

Concerns were raised over point 6 within the Contingency Funding Criteria noting this should be reviewed or removed.

RESOLVED:

(i)            The Schools Forum noted the contents of the report and requested that their concerns and questions be acknowledged.

(ii)           That a sub group of Schools Forum would be formed to undertake a review of the Contingency Fund Criteria.

Thursday 5 July at 2.00pm.

The date and time of the next meeting is Thursday 5 July 2018 at 2pm.