Agenda and draft minutes

To elect a Chairman for the Schools Forum for 2022/23, until the first meeting of the 2023/24 academic year. 

Geoff Cherrill was elected Chairman of the Schools Forum, until the first meeting of the 2023/24 academic year. 

Voting: unanimous

To elect a Vice Chairman for the Schools Forum for 2022/23, until the first meeting of the 2023/24 academic year. 

Patrick Earnshaw was elected Chairman of the Schools Forum, until the first meeting of the 2023/24 academic year. 

Voting: unanimous

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence had been received from Mark Avoth (Catherine Turner substituting), Nadine Lapskas, Page, Councillor M White, and Cathi Hadley.

Councillors are requested to declare any interests on items included in this agenda. Please refer to the workflow on the preceding page for guidance.

Declarations received will be reported at the meeting.

There were no declarations of interest received on this occasion. 

To confirm the minutes of the previous meetings, held on 24 June and 19 July 2022, as a correct records.

The minutes of the meetings held on 24 June and 19 July 2022 were agreed as true and correct records, subject to the following correction: Sue Johnston to be added as an attendee to the 24 June set of minutes.

Voting: unanimous

The report considers the projected year end position for the DSG budget 2022-23 of a balanced position against the £16.0 million budgeted funding gap.

The cumulative deficit at 31 March 2023 is forecast to be £36.3 million.

The Assistant Chief Finance Officer presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'A' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

The report considers the projected year end position for the DSG budget 2022-23 of a balanced position against the £16.0 million budgeted funding gap.

The Forum was advised that the cumulative deficit at 31 March 2023 is forecast to be £36.3 million.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

Voting: Nem.Con

Announcements were made in July 2022 by the DfE for mainstream school funding, central school services and the high needs block.

Based on the same number of pupils as for 2022-23, BCP funding in 2023-24 is changing compared with the current year as follows: 

a)schools NFF total is increasing by £3.7 million (1.5%);

b) funding rate for the central school services block for on-going council functions has reduced by 1.3%; and

c) high needs block allocations provide an increase of £3.0 million (5.6%).

The Assistant Chief Finance Officer presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'B' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Based on the same number of pupils as for 2022-23, BCP funding in 2023-24 is changing compared with the current year as follows: 

a) schools NFF total is increasing by £3.7 million (1.5%);

b) funding rate for the central school services block for on-going council functions has reduced by 1.3%; and

c) high needs block allocations provide an increase of £3.0 million (5.6%).

Announcements were made in July 2022 by the DfE for mainstream school funding, central school services and the high needs block.

The Forum was advised that BCP Council would be submitting a bid in December, to support the work going forward and that it was one of the first five Local Authorities to go through this. 

A further Agenda item would be brought back to this Forum, at the January 2023 meeting, as the bid would have been submitted and the outcome may be known by then. 

RESOLVED that the Forum noted the contents of the report.

Voting: Unanimous

Schools forum representation has not been updated since BCP was formed.  This paper considers 3 options by which to move forward.

The Assistant Chief Finance Officer presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'C' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

It was advised that the Schools Forum representation had not been updated since BCP Council had been formed.  This paper considered 3 options by which to move forward.

It was discussed and agreed that the Forum membership remained as it was for this year.  It was also advised that a perspective candidate for one of the Academy vacancies had contacted the Council.

A further report would be brought to the Forum at the last meeting of the academic year, for debate.

RESOLVED that the Schools forum agreed Option A, to continue with the current membership for another year, filling the current

vacancies.

Voting: Unanimous

The purpose of this paper is to outline the reasons for the SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) Mainstream banding review, detail the banding value options that have been scoped, provide an overview of the revised descriptors and provide an update on the recommend the banding value option that has been deemed to be most viable for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (BCP Council) for Cabinet’s consideration and approval on 26^th October 2022.

This paper outlines how the recommended option and the other options scoped under this review will contribute to the long-term reduction of the overall overspend in the High Needs Block budget and the commitment required from both mainstream schools and the SEND Service to reduce growth in both Alternative Provision (AP) and Independent Non-Maintained Special School provision (INMSS). 

Implementation of the proposed and approved new banding value option will commence from November 2022.  

The Head of Performance 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.

The purpose of this paper was to outline the reasons for the SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) Mainstream banding review, detail the banding value options that have been scoped, provide an overview of the revised descriptors and provide an update on the recommend the banding value option that has been deemed to be most viable for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (BCP Council) for Cabinet’s consideration and approval on 26^th October 2022.

This paper outlined how the recommended option and the other options scoped under this review would contribute to the long-term reduction of the overall overspend in the High Needs Block budget and the commitment required from both mainstream schools and the SEND Service to reduce growth in both Alternative Provision (AP) and Independent Non-Maintained Special School provision (INMSS). 

Implementation of the proposed and approved new banding value option would commence from November 2022.  

RESOLVED that Members to review the revised SEND mainstream banding descriptors and value option recommended in this report.  

Voting: Unanimous

The purpose of this paper is to provide an update on the timeline developed for the Special School Banding review.   

The Head of Performance presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'E' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

The purpose of this paper was to provide an update on the timeline developed for the Special School Banding review.  The Forum was asked to pass on any feedback. 

Concerns were raised about any barriers.  It was suggested and agreed that this be brought back to a future meeting of the Forum. 

RESOLVED that this be brought back to a future meeting of the Forum. 

Voting: Unanimous

To consider the forward plan for the Schools Forum. 

The Head of Performance presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix ‘F’ to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

RESOLVED that the Forward Plan was noted.

Voting: Nem.Con

To consider when future meetings of the School Forum should be held. 

The Democratic and Overview and Scrutiny Officer suggested dates for future meetings of the Schools Forum.  It was suggested and agreed that all meetings should be on a Monday and with a 10:00 start time. 

It was RESOLVED that the following dates would be used for meetings of the Schools Forum:

• 21 November 2022
• 16 January 2023
• 26 June 2023
• 25 September 2023

Voting: unanimous

To consider any other business, which, in the opinion of the Chairman, is of sufficient urgency to warrant consideration.

The Forum closed the meeting by acknowledging BCP Council for the ongoing work.