To seek approval for the de-delegation (where appropriate) for Primary and Secondary Schools and the retention of funding from the Early Years and High Needs Block funding for facilities release time for Trade Unions and Professional Associations.

The Forum considered a report which sought approval for the de-delegation (where appropriate) for Primary and Secondary Schools and the retention of funding from the Early Years and High Needs Block funding for facilities release time for Trade Unions and Professional Associations.

The Head of Human Resources Policy and Development provided an overview of the legal requirement for trade union representation in schools and the significant contribution made by them.  The funding system for schools should account for this work.

The Forum expressed concerns that they had been asked to vote on this information previously without all of the detailed analysis being available.  The Assistant Director for Learning, Commissioning and Partnerships Children’s Services explained that the deadlines from the DfE had been very tight and that the Forum had been asked to make a decision based on the information available at the time.  Subsequent to the submission of the decision to the DfE, Officers received clarification that middle and upper schools were to be considered one phase and not two.  In addition, the final pricing elements from all of the Trade Union and Professional Associations had been received and the amounts to be charged had increased, since the original vote had been taken from £2.77 to £3.56.

The Lower School Phase confirmed that their vote would not change and that de-delegation was their preferred option.

A Forum representative had confirmed that based on the report and the revised figures, he would change one of the middle school votes and considered de-delegation the correct option. There was no Upper School representative at the meeting and due to DfE requirement that the Middle and Upper School votes be combined, the Upper Schools vote would be annulled.

Another Forum representative:

·              Commented upon, and expressed concerns about, the Report and associated appendices for this agenda item which did not explain why Schools Forum were being asked to revote.

·              Questioned why, and upon what competence, a revote was required

·              Queried why the previous consultation and vote should not stand.

It was noted by the Forum that the vote would only affect schools for one year. The forum also considered that the recommendations should have identified the preferred option from the two presented.  The Forum agreed that a request for a specific option should have been made and recommended that this be done.

The second phase vote was taken again and both representatives present voted for de-delegation.

RESOLVED

1.            that the vote to de-delegate funding from the Lower School Phase be confirmed;

2.            that the de-delegation of funding from the Secondary School Phase (Middle & Upper) be agreed;

The vote was unanimous - 2 votes for

3.            that the Early Years and High Needs Blocks are not required to vote for de-delegation of the monies allocated for facilities time however it is recommended that the allocation of funding for facilities time be noted.

4.            that all de-delegated funding and funding from the Early Years and High Needs Blocks to be used to facilitate release time for Trade Unions and Professional Associations in accordance with the costs allocated in Appendix A, Option B.

The Forum voted 5 for and 0 against 1 abstention