Agenda item

Julie Pickering (JP) gave an update on the DfE (Local Partnerships) pilot and noted that the full report from Local Partnerships is confidential as it is commercially sensitive but that the three PFI schools’ Headteachers had commented on its accuracy.

Schools Forum agreed to set up a Task and Finish group to enable some members of the Forum (in addition to the three PFI schools) to become more familiar with the report and the pilot so that they can feed back to Schools Forum. As well as the three PFI schools, Maggie Waller and John Constable agreed to join the Task and Finish Group and MW agree to contact any schools’ members of Schools Forum not present to invite them. Matt Redwood agreed to attend also. JP suggested that three one hour meetings of the group would be needed before the end of February 2015.

JP clarified that the Council is looking to reduce its commitment regarding the affordability gap i.e. to reduce the £500,000 per annum element of its contribution. There is also the on- going issue of £180k per annum increase in operating costs as a result of the benchmarking exercise in 2012 which is being discussed separately with the three PFI Schools.

Mary Sparrow stated that Schools Forum could not make longer term commitments and that, should any future decision be made about this by the Forum, it could only be a year on year one. Members of the Forum endorsed this.

MW asked why capital could not be used to pay for the Council contribution and referred to an example of this elsewhere. A response is to be made to Schools Forum on this question.

Helen Huntley asked what would happen if a request for funding from DSG came to Schools Forum in the future and it was refused. MW stated that the Council could appeal to the Secretary of State.

It was noted that JP’s contract is to end on 19^th December and it was asked who would continue the work. JP will be completing a detailed handover to Joseph Holmes and MW agreed to email Joseph Holmes to follow this up.

MW asked for clarification about the 2014/15 sum of £500,000 which has been withheld from the DSG and asked when this was to be returned and asked that Schools Forum should be given a commitment regarding this.

JP noted that the current work of the pilot could impact on timing and advised that that was why the Task and Finish Group’s work needs to be completed by end of February. Joseph Holmes will present the completed report to the Forum meeting on 25^th February 2015.

Schools Forum requested a commitment from the Council that, in future, no monies will be top-sliced from the DSG without a request to Schools Forum and Forum approval.