·  This is a public meeting

·  The meeting is recorded for minute taking purposes only

·  Remain on mute unless requested to speak

·  Raise ‘hand’ to ask a question, or ask a question using Chat

·  Use Chat to vote as not everyone has the hand symbol.

·  This is a public meeting

·  The meeting is recorded for minute taking purposes only

·  Remain on mute unless requested to speak

·  Raise ‘hand’ to ask a question, or ask a question in the chat section

·  Use Chat to vote as not everyone has the hand symbol.

The minutes from the meeting were accepted as a true record.

There were no matters arising.

Andrew Snow updated Forum on the procurement of electricity and gas onbehalf of schools through the Crown Commercial Service (CCS).  A copy of the updated report has been uploaded on the Wirral Website and a copy will be sent out with the minutes. 

Provision of Gas moved from Corona to Total Gas & Power in April 2020. Electricity will be transferred from British Gas to EDF on 1^st April 2021.  The process of clearing issues started in the summer so should be a smoother transition for schools.  If School don’t transfer by 1^st April 2021 the unit cost could increase by 56% rise.  There will be a reduction in costs due to the changes in contracts.

The additional cost of purchasing electricity from renewable sources for 2021-22 to enable the council to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2030 will be met by the Council’s Climate Emergency Budget.

The Council will endeavour to apply for incentives corporately, including schools, where it is deemed practical. 

Resolved

Forum noted the report

Stuart Bellerby provided updates on the Schools Traded Services for the 2020-21 Financial Year, highlighting 4 additional services that came on board.  Most services have continued to provide support to schools though out the Covid pandemic.

Overall income for 2020-21 is just under £4m.  3 services have had a significant drop in Income, 1 due to a reduction in service due to schools moving to cashless system and 2 due to external competition.

Financial Analysis has been undertaken and most services are breaking even. 

Due to Commercial in Confidence and the sensitivity of providing this data in a public meeting a sub-group can be arranged to provide the information to Forum members.

Forum members highlighted their concerns of the effect Council savings would have on traded services provision to schools.  As most services are breaking even the Council wouldn’t make savings by reducing these services.

The Virtual Launch event is this Friday 22^nd January and will be recorded for those who can’t make it.

Resolved

Forum noted the report.

Carol Fenlon briefed Forum on the discussions at the recent Early Years Working Group. 

·  All Early Years (EY) central staffing posts have now been filled.

·  Covid-19 has disrupted uptake of places, although recovery in autumn term of 2,3 &4 yr olds is positive and in line with national figures.  Only extended hours have a slower recovery rate.  Public Health have been a key partner in providing reassurances to the sector with regular updates. To ensure they are working within safe Covid practices. 

·  DfE enabled LA’s to pay Autumn Term 2020 allocations at Autumn 2019 levels where this funding was higher.

·  There are headcount issues for Spring Term 2020 as early years providers are open, but numbers are lower than expected due to parents keeping children at home. New DfE guidance has been issued since the report was published which allows providers include pupils not in attendance as long as there is an available place and a signed agreement for the child.

·  The EY SEND Team is now staffed to full capacity and continue to work with, schools, providers and families to ensure early identification of need. The Team are now responding to need where children have not been at a provision for some time. 

·  The EY SEND Team are providing training and support to upskill and enable practitioner in this area. 

The Forum offered their support, including the offer to lobby on the Early Years behalf, during the difficult circumstances that Covid-19 has brought.

Resolved

Forum noted the report

Catherine McNally updated Forum on the Schools’ Library Service (SLS) provided mainly to primary schools through de-delegation. They are now part of Wirral Traded Services and offer additional chargeable services to secondary schools, academy schools and a premium service to primary schools.

The SLS has continued to provide services during Covid-19, by changing their service provision, such as a Click & Collect service and provision of books to families over the summer holidays whilst public libraries remained closed.

Resolved

Forum noted the report

Christine Thomson outlined the purpose and use of Contingency, Special Staff costs and Insurance budgets.  These budgets are currently de-delegated. 

Resolved

Forum noted the report

Christine Thomson provided the Forum with details of how the Falling Rolls and Growth Fund has been allocated based on criteria agreed at the November Forum Meeting. There were 2 adjustments required to ensure pupil numbers were consistent.

Appendix 1 identifies 23 schools receiving a share of the £466k funds and this will now be allocated before the end of the financial year.  As the funds were allocated based on the process set out by Schools’ Forum and is based on actual pupil numbers from a number of October census, there is no expectation that there will be any appeals on the allocations.

The falling rolls and growth fund criteria and DfE regulation will be reviewed at a future meeting if there is a fund in 2021-22.

The Chair thanked Christine Thomson for all the work she has done to provide this information.

Resolved

·  Forum noted the report and views from members

Christine Thomson outlined the Schools Budget for 2021-22 highlighting the following, budget changes for 2021-22

·  £1m increase for pupil numbers on roll

·  £7.8m increase to cover the increase in the per pupil value of the NFF elements and minimum per pupil funding .

·  Increase in special school places due to continued increased demand.

·  £10.3m is TPG & TPECG now incorporated into the DSG for mainstream and special schools.

·  Early Years hourly rates paid to Local Authorities will increase by £0.08 for 2 year olds and £0.06 for 3&4 Year olds.

·  A net increase of £2.5m in a number of High Need budget areas due to continued high demand.

·  Increase in PFI affordability Gap £212k due to inflation will be met by the council.

·  A 20% reduction of historic costs to combined budgets within the schools block will be offset by the increase in current costs in that block.

·  There is estimated spare capacity of £2.7m, mainly from the high needs block, which is recommended to be a contribution to reserves to offset the current high needs expected deficit at the end of this financial year.

·  Minimum levels of per pupil funding have been set for 2021-22 at £5,415 for Secondary pupils and £4180 per primary pupils.

·  The MFG for 2021-22 must be set between +0.5% and +2.0%

Resolved

1.  Forum views were sought on the Schools Budget for 2021-22

2.  Forum agreed the net increase in the current cost element of the Central School Services block to be used to off-set the reduction in historic cost element.

3.  Forum agreed the transfer of the surplus High Needs funding for 2021-22 to the DSG reserve to offset the deficit position.

4.  The School Budget will be referred to the Policy and Recourses Committee on 17^th February 2021.

The following budgets can be de-delegated: Contingency, Special Staff Costs (including TU facility time), School Library Service, Insurance, Behaviour Support, School Improvement and former ESG Costs.

There are no changes to the rates for any services this year, just a small adjustment between primary contingency & behaviour support for vulnerable children.

Only Schools Forum members, in their relevant phase, can decide if these areas should be taken out of the formula budget before it is allocated to schools. 

Forum members requested more information on the School Improvement and Behaviour Support areas of de-delegation as there is no information explaining what these services provide or impact reports to highlight the difference they make.  There was no information available at this meeting but it was agreed that reports would be provided to the May meeting to include what services are provided under School Improvement and Behaviour Support and their impact.

Clarification will also be provided within the School Improvement and Behaviour Support reports concerning Academies receiving these services and if they are, whether they are being charged for them as they do not contribute to de-delegation.

Forum members were concerned about making decisions at this point, and would have preferred to defer the response, however, a decision is required to finalise the 2021-22 mainstream budgets. There was a discussion about de-delegating the costs to August to ensure salaries can be met and the services reviewed. 

Resolved

1. The Primary Forum Representatives agreed to de-delegate each of the following budgets for the financial year 2021-22:-

-  Contingency 

-  Special Staff Costs including Trade Union Facilities time

-  School Library Service

-  Insurance 

The Primary Forum Representatives only agreed to de-delegate 5/12 of the School Improvement and Behaviour Support services, to enable the department to provide reports to the May meeting which will include what services are provided by these areas and the impact of them.

2.  Primary Forum Representatives agreed a contribution to former ESG costs for General Duties of £369,416 

3. The Secondary Forum Representative agreed to de-delegate each of the following budgets for the financial year 2020-21:-

-  Contingency

-  Special Staff Costs including Trade Union Facilities time

The Secondary Forum Representative only agreed to de-delegate 5/12 of the School Improvement and Behaviour Support services, to enable the department to provide reports to the May meeting which will include what services are provided by these areas and the impact of them.

4.  Secondary Forum Representatives agreed a contribution to former ESG costs for General Duties of £58,470.

5.  Special Schools Forum Representatives agreed a contribution to former ESG costs for General Duties of £72,114. 

Christine Thomson sought views from the Forum concerning a change to the agreed level of Minimum Funding Guarantee (MFG) of 1.25% if there is a significant capacity within the funding once the formula has been applied. Where this capacity is more that £0.5m then the MFG could increase as long as there is no capping. This would provide schools with as much additional funding as possible, whilst leaving a smaller amount in a falling rolls/growth fund.

Resolved

Forum noted the report and Forum’s views were sought and in general agreed with the principle of this change if required.

Sue Ashley updated Forum on school balances and projections based on Period 6 monitoring.  The expected balances at Period 6 monitoring have improved since budget setting by £1.2m. Budgets were set with caution due to Covid-19 and the lack of clarity around future funding, and as clarity has been provided the position shows an improved position.

Overall balances continue to show a downward trend over the next 3 years, and if no action is taken the number of schools moving into deficit will continue to increase. The LA continues to support schools to enable them to make difficult decisions to ensure budgets remain in credit, or they can move back into a credit position. 

Resolved

Forum noted the report

Christine Thomson advised the Forum on the expected position and variations regarding the Schools Budget in the current financial year.  The forecast is to overspend by £1.1m due to pressures in the high needs block, which is an improvement of £300k since last reported.

Appendix 2 identifies the forecast under/overspends on the DSG.

Resolved

Forum noted the report

Christine Thomson updated Forum on the actions being taken to develop the DSG Management plan, which was a requirement of the DfE because the DSG was in deficit.  The confirmed high needs DSG for 2021-22 covers current spending levels and growth of £1.2m and leaves enough to cover the current expected deficit at the end of March 2021. 

Whilst this leaves the LA in a better position it is still necessary to review services to ensure they are sustainable going forward.  The plan will continue to be developed going forward and will be moved to a co-production phase.  This will include all stakeholders that were involved in the engagement and participation stage.  Work is expected to be completed in March with a view to return a report to the May Forum meeting.

Resolved

Forum noted the report

Sue Ashley updated Forum on the current Forum Membership.  There are 3 academy vacancies at present, although requests for representatives have been circulated twice.  There are a further 3 academy vacancies due in August.  Although there is no regulation to ensure there are a mix of primary and secondary representation Forum members appreciate the need to keep a good balance. 

Resolved

Forum noted the report

The workplan was provided for information.

  Tuesday 11^th May 2021

  Tuesday 29^th June 2021

There was no other business.