Agenda and minutes

To agree the procedures for the operation of remote meetings.

RESOLVED -

THAT the guidance be noted.

To note the Schools Forum membership list and any updates.

A new secondary school representative had been elected; Bob House, school governor at Camden School for Girls.

It was noted that Alex Yates, substitute Special School & Hospital representative from The Royal Free Hospital Children's School, term of office expired in February 2023.

RESOLVED -

THAT the membership list be noted.

Apologies had been received from David Silverstone and Councillor Boyland (Cabinet Member for Best Start for Children and Families).

There were no declarations.

Broadcast of the meeting

The Chair to announce the following: ‘In addition to the rights by law that the public and press have to record this meeting, I would like to remind everyone that this meeting is being broadcast live by the Council to the Internet and can be viewed on our website for twelve months after the meeting. After that time, webcasts are archived and can be made available upon request. 

If you have asked to address the meeting, you are deemed to be consenting to having your contributions recorded and broadcast, including video when switched on, and to the use of those sound recordings and images for webcasting and/or training purposes’.

Broadcast of the meeting

The Chair announced the following: “In addition to the rights by law that the public and press have to record this meeting, I would like to remind everyone that this meeting is being broadcast live by the Council to the Internet and can be viewed on our website for six months after the meeting. After that time, webcasts are archived and can be made available upon request.

If you have asked to address the meeting, you are deemed to be consenting to being filmed and to the use of those images and sound recordings for webcasting and/or training purposes. If you are addressing the Committee your contribution will be recorded and broadcast.”

To consider and approve the minutes of the meeting held on 6 December 2022.

RESOLVED -

THAT the minutes of the last meeting held on 6 December 2022 be approved as a correct record.

There was no urgent business.

This report updates the Schools Forum on the estimated funding available for 2023/24 following the recent Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) finance settlement notification on 16th December 2022 and details the anticipated use of this money to fund schools early years and high needs. It then outlines future funding pressures the current DSG reserves position, de-delegation and the latest advice on energy costs.

Consideration was given to the report of the Head of Education Commissioning and School Organisation.

The Team Leader Schools and Designated Schools Grant presented the report which updated the Forum on the estimated funding available for 2023/24 following the recent Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) finance settlement notification on 16 December 2022; detailed the anticipated use of that money to fund schools Early Years and high needs; and further outlined the future funding pressures, the current DSG reserves position, de-delegation, and the latest advice on energy costs.

The Chair thanked officers for the report and opened the Forum to questions and comments. The Following was discussed:

-       In response to a member, it was explained that following the increase in funding per pupil, overall Camden saw a real terms increase of 1.6%. Due to the local formula, the uplift in funding varied between schools (above and below 1.6%) to distribute funding outlined in Appendix 1. Officers confirmed they would provide information to members on the levels of increased funding by individual school.

Action By - Team Leader Schools and Designated Schools Grant

-       It was noted that for many schools there was a real terms decrease in funding due to fewer pupils, thus fewer pupils to receive per pupil funding.

-       In relation to section 2.14 Table 1, it was confirmed that the mainstream schools additional grant (MSAG) 3.5% per pupil rate would apply to each school.

-       In relation to section 5.1-5.2, it was confirmed there was £8 million in the DSG reserves. In response to a member querying if any of the reserve money could help fund the increasing Special Educational Need and Disabilities (SEND) needs, where schools were struggling to fund using existing budgets, it was confirmed that there were government announcements expected in relation to SEND funding. Additionally, officers stated that due to the levels of funding in the DSG reserves, it was appropriate that a discussion could take place through the Forum and with the Council in how the money should  be spent.

-       In relation to section 2.17 C, high needs block (HNB) allocations, members asked officers to present options and set out the parameters of how Schools Forum could use and manage the underspend budget. Officers agreed they would present a paper to the next meeting.

Action By - Team Leader Schools and Designated Schools Grant

-       In relation to section 4.6, a member noted that five Camden schools had a licenced deficit. In response to the member, it was confirmed that If any schools with a licensed deficit converted into an academy the deific would transfer to the Council, but unlikely to the DSG reserves. However, Camden schools were not able to hold a debt higher than 10% of their balance. Officers confirmed they would present the values at the next meeting. As described in section 4.6, schools were continuing to be advised to maintain a three year financial plan. While there were many schools currently  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

Camden Council alongside Islington Council entered a contract with Caterlink to provide a school meals service with contracted schools. The contract ends on 31 March 2023 and includes an option to extend for two further years.

This paper sets out the Council’s current position with regard to the future of the contract and the range of options available to the Council.

Consideration was given to the report of the Director of Property Management.

The Head of Facilities Management and the Contracts Performance and Commercial Manager introduced the report which explained that Camden Council’s Caterlink contract to provide a school meals service would end on 31 March 2023.  Schools Forum were told the Council’s current position with regard to the future of the contract, and other options available going forward.

The following resolution was passed to enter private session, proposed by Rob Earrey and seconded by Alan Chesters, at 6.35pm:

RESOLVED –

THAT the press and public be excluded from the proceedings of the Schools Forum during consideration of the respective item on the agenda on the grounds that it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted, that were members of the public to be present, there would be disclosure of exempt information as defined in Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) and that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Specifically - Publicity in respect of item 9 would be likely to lead to the disclosure of exempt information relating to the financial or business affairs of a particular person (including the authority holding that information) in accordance with paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

Part II

Officers outlined the Council’s current position of the renegotiation with Caterlink and the Forum asked questions of clarification and commented on future options.

Part I

The meeting returned to public session at 7.10pm.

RESOLVED –

THAT the current position of the renegotiation of the school meals contract and the changes to price that may occur be noted, detailed within the report.

This report provides a briefing on an update projection on the HNB outturn for 2022/23 and the proposals for the HNB and high needs funding for schools for 2023/24.

Consideration was given to the report of the Director of Early Intervention and Prevention.

The Director of Early Intervention and Prevention introduced the report. The report set out the HNB funding position, 2022/23 monitoring, 2023/34 HNB funding, and the proposals for increase spend in 2023/24.

The Chair thanked officers for the report and opened the Forum to questions and comments. The following was discussed:

-       In relation to table 1 and section 1.5, officers confirmed that £5 million additional pounds would be contributed into the existing reserves.

-       Officers confirmed they understood the bids made by the Pupil Referral Unit (PRUs) to be granted and funded by the reserves. Having listened to comments from members, officers understood the Forum supported similar funding models to run similar services in areas of need, given the level of reserves.

-       A member asked if the reserve money could be used to build capacity for additional support schools, because many sites had no spaces. Members explained the current position was schools having to turn young people away who had Education Health Care Plan (EHCP) indicating a required provision, due to a lack of capacity. Members suggested that given there were schools that did have space, unfortunately due to continually fewer children, there were potential locations ready for expansion. In response, officers told the Forum that there was sustainable financial modelling and contingency planning work about to take place, supported by external national expert Peter Gray. When considering expansion, the location of services and accessibility for parents had to fit the need. Officers agreed with a members’ suggestion to hold Camden head teacher focus groups as part of the review work and devising a future model.

Action By - Director of Early Intervention and Prevention

-       Officers confirmed that in their latest DfE data submission, the requirements of the SEND data were more detailed and Camden would benefit for the more forensic evidence gathering when planning future services.

-       Officers confirmed that Early Years block funding and High Needs block funding had to adhere to different guidance, which not always aligned in terms of how local authorities were allowed to allocate.  Camden had to be creative and Camden made efforts to distribute as equitably a possible across groups. Officers confirmed the Camden Local Inclusion Fund (CLIF) came through the Early Years block.

-       Members noted that as well as the need for a systematic review of the future of funding SEND, attention was also require on how EHCP provisions were funded in mainstream schools, because there was a real terms cost for schools. Officers confirmed there was work taking place to address this issue and they were forming proposals with finance colleagues. Officers would report back to head teachers in due course.

RESOLVED –

THAT the updated High Needs Block position and additional funding proposals be noted, detailed within the report.

The next meeting, and final meeting of the academic year 2022/23, is on 6 June 2023.

The next meeting, and the last meeting of the academic year, would be on 6 June 2023.

There was no urgent business.