Paul Grout (PG) provided an update to the position presented at the last Education Board Meeting:

£20,000 underspend on forecast;

Early Years block in running very close to its forecast, the run-rates are very close.

High Needs block is overspent by £613,000.

Robin Bevan (RB), as Chairman of the Finance Resources Sub Group (FRSG), mentioned that the committee had looked at mathematical scenarios in order to reduce the deficit.

PH mentioned that a report had been produced for the independent, non-maintained schools.

Elaine Hammans (EH) said that Early Years is not included in the Inclusion fund. High Needs has to look at how Early Years will be inclusion fund funded, and she and PG would be producing a report for the March Education Board meeting.

RB said that the way forward for independently provided provision was through the Vulnerable Learners Sub Group (VLSG). He reminded the meeting attendees that they are have a duty to make sure how the money is allocated. The Inclusion fund has to fall within existing resource.

Schools Block

Ian Ambrose (IA) stated that the situation is better than it was perceived to be 6 months previously, following the consultation of the Government introduced minimum pupil funding increase.

The three models for distribution of schools block would be debated and voted upon:

Model 1: The NFF, allowing for a guaranteed increase in pupil led funding of 0.5% and guaranteed pupil funding of £3,300 and £4,600 for primary and secondary settings respectively (the NFF 2018/19 transitional arrangements);

Model 2: The NFF resource distributed through the existing local formula arrangements, updating the basic entitlement only; and

Model 3: The NFF, allowing for guaranteed per pupil funding of £3,500 and £4,800 for primary and secondary settings respectively, and scaling back the guaranteed pupil funding to a 0.285% increase accordingly.

JG gave his apologies as he needed to be elsewhere and left the meeting.

RB argued that Model 3 is the only one consistent with what the Local Authority position on the minimum level of funding for schools.

The pattern of decisions made by the Education Board over a period of six years was to divert supplementary funding into deprivation funding, and that this had caused a bigger gap between schools, as the income per pupil had seen a 20% cut in real terms. The viability of some schools, despite being well run with outstanding results, is being questioned by auditors as core curriculum provision was under threat through lack of funding.

Niki Lamont (NL) favoured model 1 as it would favour more deprived schools.

Model 2 was disregarded and there followed debate on the merits of Models 1 and 3.

Tim Barrett (TB) reminded attendees that the amount of money wouldn’t get any bigger and that it was time to bite the bullet, indicating a preference for Model 3.

A vote was held of Board members, resulting in support for Model 3 being carried with 6 votes for mode 3, 4 votes for Model 1 and 2 abstentions.

Early Years Block

RB said that decisions for the Early Years Block would be made at the March 2018 Education Board meeting, with the presentation of the report from EH and PG.

High Needs Block

Jackie Mullan (JM) said the VLSG had done no work on this, nor had there been any progression because the new SEN officer would not be in place until February 2018.

BM recognised what JM was saying and agreed to set up this work through the VLSG before Gary Bloom joins on 1st February 2018.