Issue - meetings

This report provides proposals for:

·     the central retention of services for the 2025/26 financial year where the LA retains a statutory duty to undertake activity to support maintained schools only (both mainstream and specialist);

·     de-delegation of services for the 2025/26 financial year applicable only to mainstream schools. These are services where schools retain the statutory duties, but better efficiency could be achieved through central delivery by the LA.

The Head of School Places, Funding and Admissions presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'D' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Maintained School Forum members must be consulted on proposals for the central retention and de-delegated budget shares and agree these.

This report provides proposals for:

·     the central retention of services for the 2025/26 financial year where the LA retains a statutory duty to undertake activity to support maintained schools only (both mainstream and specialist);

·     de-delegation of services for the 2025/26 financial year applicable only to mainstream schools. These are services where schools retain the statutory duties, but better efficiency could be achieved through central delivery by the LA.

Following some discussion, Schools Forum did not agree to the recommendation outlined in the report. Instead, they suggested holding a meeting with all maintained headteachers to reach an agreement regarding this report outside of the meeting.