Agenda item

6.1)  It was recommended that the Forum both note the underspend of the DSG and the high level forward view.

6.2)  At the previous meeting in February we were predicting a £1.5m surplus.  It now stands slightly down at £1.1m.  The surplus is mainly due to extra in year funding for the High Needs Block. 

6.3)  Schools Block: an underspend overall which mainly comes from the growth fund.  The intention is to use £400k of the underspend to support the growth fund in 2019/20.

6.4)  Early Years Block: The underspend was noted.  As mentioned at previous meetings this is not necessarily due to money not being spent or being withheld from providers but an anomaly around how the Government allocates funding.  So far the Government has not clawed back any of the underspend but it could do so.

6.5)  High Needs Block:  DSG income higher than budgeted with the in- year grant of £1.759m received.  Due to an increase in demand the SEN top ups budget is overspent by £1.8m.  The outside placements budget is overspent by £1.4m.  These two areas continue to be monitored closely.

6.6)  Central Schools Services Block:  there were some minor changes to this block, seeing an underspend of £6k.

6.7)  2018/19 Reserves:  General reserves will see a surplus of £1.1m carried forward to 2019-20 and likewise £587k for de-delegated services.

6.8)  Forward View 2019-20:  There are uncertainties around individual schools and budgeting beyond 2019-20.  There are also underlying pressures on the High Needs Block and going forward a deficit is expected by the end of 2019/20.

Diane Reynard left the meeting at 17:30

Some schools have additional pupil numbers in year but no additional funding.  There will be a growth fund of £2.9m:  £2.5m from DSG and £400k to be used from the reserves. 

Action:  to provide the Forum with details on which schools are due to receive growth fund payments in 2019-20.  SC

There is a risk around what each service will cost each year due to peaks and troughs eg maternity funding.  A large part of the funding is in relation to capitalised pension costs whereby if a school is experiencing difficulties, pensions for staff who are retiring are paid from the pot.

There is an underspend on SENIT and the Sensory Service which is due to staffing vacancies.  The underspend is not likely to continue into 2019/20.

6.9)  De delegation:  In February a balance was projected although some of the costs are not known until end of the year.  There was a higher underspend than thought on capitalised pensions.  It was discussed whether the surplus on de-delegated budgets should be given back to schools as a one off payment.  Proposals will be discussed in October.  Only maintained primary and secondary schools can vote.  Schools recently academised will have paid into the fund and it was suggested that it would be only fair to return funds to those schools as well.

Action:  look at the impact on individual schools and the initial numbers involved plus how cost effective it would be to redistribute it now than carry forward.   LH/SC