Agenda item

Coral Miller reported that the report is to inform Schools Forum of the consultation results and the changes proposed by the Local Authority on the Fair Funding formula budget for 2016-17.

The 3 options outlined in the report are to go to Cabinet on 18^th January with the recommendation that the Council approves Option 3.

NavroopMehat noted concerns regarding the numbers outlined on Appendix A of the report. Coral Miller noted that the consultation figures were based on October 2014 and that the figures in Appendix A had been updated with October 2015 and the new IDACI changes.  She reported that the Schools Block figure was higher than expected and the figure was not known before.

There was discussion about the information being presented to members. Maggie Waller raised her concerns that Cabinet members appear not to have been informed of the full impact on budgets nor advised of the Schools Forum response as neither is included in the Cabinet report. Schools Forum had been assured at the last meeting that members would be informed.

Krutika Pau confirmed that members would not have had more detail than was in the report and agreed to share this information with members before Monday’s Cabinet meeting. Maggie Waller to send Krutika the Schools Forum response for Krutika to share.

NavroopMehat noted that the responses provided in the report to members should have been weighted as they are heavily skewed to primary. Other members endorsed this, saying that the figures appear democratic but are not weighted in the report and this is significant.

It was noted that the two sums relating to PFI (each of £500k) are included in the figures which is misleading. It was agreed that these figures would be shown separately when budgets go out so that schools are clear.

It was noted, with concern, that figures for a number of schools, including Wexham Secondary, do not appear to be robust and a breakdown was requested. It was also stated that Wexham Secondary had a significant reduction in number on roll of 36 children from last year which contributed to the deduction. It was agreed that a breakdown would be provided as soon as possible.