Agenda and minutes

Apologies had been received from Mr D Flowitt, Mrs M Potterton, Mr P Thompson, Mr M Adnitt, Mrs J Flintoff, Mrs  A Nuttall, Ms Z Birchall, Mr A Sutherland, Mrs C Williams, Mr L Riley, Mr R Biglands, Mrs P Whittaker and Ms R Abbott.

There were no declarations of Disposable Pecuniary Interests and Personal or Personal and Prejudicial interests.

That the minutes of the last meeting held on 21 April 2022, having been printed and circulated amongst the members, be taken as read and correctly recorded, and be signed by the Chair.

Item 960 – Membership update – the Secretary had received an email from Mr P Thompson, he advised that the Lincoln Diocesan Board of Education had proposed Dr Hilary Beverley as his replacement on the Forum.

Item 961 -  One response had been received from the consultation on the Schools’ Scheme of Finance agreeing with the proposals.

Resolved – That Dr Hilary Beverley be nominated as a replacement representative for the Lincoln Diocesan Board of Education.

In 2021 the Department for Education held a first stage consultation on the direct national funding formula (NFF), this consultation focused on the principle of moving to a direct formula, with proposals on how the transition towards that end point should happen. 

The current consultation focused further on the detail of the implementation of the direct NFF.  An important part of the implementation of the direct NFF was the interaction between it and funding for high needs, which many highlighted in responses to the consultation in 2021.  The consultation deadline was 9 September 2022.

Ms T Elliott advised that she proposed to put some answers together and send them round to all members of the Forum, relevant members would also be consulted on some elements.

Discussion ensued on main changes proposed in the consultation.

Resolved – That the proposed consultation responses be emailed to all heads by 1 September 2022.

Ms T Elliott presented the report.

The report updated the Forum on the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) outturn 2021/22 and the DSG earmarked reserves as at 31 March 2022.

The final DSG allocation for 2021/22 was £152.590m (£92.128m following academy and high needs recoupment of £60.462m). 

Funding deployed to maintained schools amounted to £64.310m.  Central expenditure for early years, high needs and central provision amounted to £25.956m.

A breakdown of expenditure for each of the central budgets for early years, high needs and central provision was appended to the report at Appendix 1.

There had been an underspend in the current year; most of which was in the high needs budget.  Some reserve was used in 2021 and the same would happen again this year.  Additional money could not be put into the formula this year, Mrs J Flintoff was investigating utilising some of the underspend around SEND provision.

Mrs W Holmes advised that she had met with a number of primary and secondary headteachers to discuss inclusion priorities.  Mrs Holmes and Mrs Flintoff had visited an alternative provision free school in Doncaster the week previous with regard to them putting in an expression of interest for a KS2 to KS4 provision in North Lincolnshire.  An expression of interest had also been submitted for a free special school, which was currently being progressed.  If both were successful, North Lincolnshire would be in a very good position.

Discussion ensued on inclusion provision and funding. 

The Chair felt it was important to have the comparison with previous years in order to see what had been spent each year, so that it could fit with the strategic plan.

Resolved – (a) That the report be noted; (b) that comparative figures be submitted to the next meeting, and (c) that Mrs W Holmes prepares a briefing report, including historic data, for the next meeting.

Mrs R Maughan presented the report.

The report informed the Forum of the outturn of individual school budgets and the overall financial position of North Lincolnshire maintained schools at the close of financial year 2021-22.

Individual school budgets for 2021-22 amounted to £64.310m or maintained secondary, primary and special schools and pupil referral units.  In addition, maintained schools carried forward balances of £6.217m from 2020-21.

Actual expenditure by maintained schools in 2021-22 was £63.690m, resulting in an in-year contribution to reserves of £0.638m.

The report gave details of schools’ deficit balances.

Overall reserves had been increased, the year had generally been more stable;  with lessening effects from the pandemic.  Mr P Raspin asked what measures were being taken to help schools with managing budgets in light of current fuel costs. 

Mrs R Maughan advised that schools had received a supplementary grant on top of their budget share which was supposed to help with this.  The issue would be reviewed in the autumn term, particularly due to the likely increases at that time.  The supplementary grant would become a permanent increase from next year and would be rolled into budgets.

Resolved – That the report be noted.

Future meeting dates will be arranged and conveyed to all members by the Secretary to the Forum.