Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Peter Largue, Alison Hall, Mustafaa Malik, Ethel Mills, Matt Waterfield, Chris Toon, Christina Jones, Clive Wisby and Cllr Gary Haley.

The Forum is asked to approve as a correct record the minutes of the last meeting held on 6 February 2020

The minutes of the meeting held on 6 February 2020 were agreed as a correct record.

Carole Smith, Resources and Digital

The Forum received a report on the guidance on the employment of term time only employees.

Currently holiday entitlement is calculated on a pro rata basis but for term time only employees they do not receive the statutory minimum. Recent caselaw refers to this and the Court of Appeal agreed with the employee.

The impact of this on schools is not yet known, however further information would be brought back to the Forum once known.

Therefore it is proposed that provision be made in the Council’s accounts for the potential cost. The estimated cost to maintained schools is £600,000. The Schools Forum was asked to consider how this would be funded and a decision would be made at a later date.  It was also pointed out that this will have a disproportionate effect on special schools because of the type of staff that are employed within those settings.

RESOLVED    -           Thar the Forum noted that contents of the report and that

further reports will be brought to Schools Forum when it is known if the case goes to the Supreme Court.

Carole Smith, Resources and Digital

A report was presented on the proposed Mainstream Schools top up rates from April 2020.

It is proposed that the mainstream top up rates be increased in line with mainstream MFG of 1.84%.

RESOLVED    -           That the Schools Forum approved the mainstream banding

proposal for 2020/21.

Claire Reid, Resources and Digital

The Forum received the quarter 3 projected outturn position of DSG for 2019/20.  The projected outturn is £102.508m therefore an overspend of £747,000.  The variances are due to the impact of MFG and capping in relation to special schools and a reduction in the forecast of early year spending, which may be the subject of clawback in 2020/21.

If the reserve fund is used to fund the overspend this will result in the reserve reducing to £211,000 at the end of the financial year.

RESOLVED    -           That the Schools Forum noted the content of the report.

Carole Smith, Resources and Digital

Forum received a report seeking approval of the budget for DSG for 2020/21.

The overall funding position is £106.137m which is an increase of £4.376m on the previous year. The budget allows for an increase in the maintained schools budget chare, an increase in HNB and a reduction in the Central Services Schools Block.

RESOLVED    -           That the Schools Forum agreed the budget for 2020/21.

Thursday 14 May 2020, 2pm Dryden Centre

The next meeting will be held on Thursday 14 May 2020 at 2pm.