Agenda item

Mainstream Primary and Secondary Formula Funding 2019-20 and Transfer to High Needs Block - Joint Report of Corporate Director of Children and Young People's Services and Corporate Director of Resources [Key Decision: CORP/R/18/06]

Minutes:

The Cabinet considered a joint report of the Corporate Director of Children and Young People’s Services and the Corporate Director of Resources which sought agreement for the local funding formula for mainstream primary and secondary schools for 2019/20, which will apply to maintained schools from 1 April 2019 and academies from 1 September 2019.  The report provided information on the outcome of the consultation that has been undertaken, the application that has been made to the Secretary of State for Education to agree to a transfer of funding from the Schools Block Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) to the High Needs Block DSG, equivalent to 0.5% (£1.535 million), and, the impact on the local funding formula for mainstream primary and secondary schools for 2019/20.  The report also set out proposals for the use of council reserves in 2019/20 to augment the High Needs budget, in response to the significant budget pressures being experienced in this area and to reduce the size of the transfer from the Schools Block for which the Council will need to seek Secretary of State for Education approval (for copy see file of minutes). 

Sally Green, Chair of the Schools Forum explained to the Cabinet the position being faced by schools, and thanked the authority for listening to their concerns, for its continuing support and the measures being taken to assist to address the issues.

Cabinet members welcomed the feedback from the schools forum and thanked the forum for their hard work. They spoke of the funding difficulties for schools, that they would continue to lobby the government for additional resources for schools budgets, and they hoped that the government would listen.

Resolved:

 

That the recommendations contained in the report be approved.

 

Supporting documents: