To note the 2015/16 DSG and Growth Fund allocation. To note the 2016/17 funding arrangements and F40 group update.

The Forum received a report which provided an update on the 2015/16 Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) and Growth Fund allocation.  In addition, the Forum were asked to note the 2016/17 funding arrangements and the F40 group update.

From 2013/14, the DSG would be split into three notional blocks: Early Year, High Needs and Schools.

The Minimum Funding Guarantee (MFG) was set at negative 1.5% per pupil for 2015/16.

It was noted that the Chief Finance Officer (CFO) is no longer required to complete two statements annually instead the DfE have now requested one annual outturn statement, confirming that the DSG received by the Authority was fully deployed in support of the school budgets in accordance with the conditions of the School Regulations.  In addition, it will also include a Non Maintained Special School (NMSS) statement and Fraud cases reported in school statement.

The DSG allocation for 2015/16 is £192.114(M).

The Schools Block is calculated using the school block unit of funding (SBUF). For 2015/16 the SBUF is £4,289.09 (after the CRC deduction of £7.51) an increase of £144.62 from 2014/15.  There has been an increase of 718 pupils to 35,866 based on the October 2014 census data.

The DfE has transferred £353k for Central Bedfordshire University Technical College (UTC) for the 2015/16 formula base multiplied by the October census data uplifted by the Minimum Funding Level (MFL) increase.

The High Needs Block for 2014/15 has been carried forward plus:

·                Increase in places for academic year 2015/2016

·                Additional top-up of £47m (Nationally) distributed based on the 2 – 19 aged population in each LA.  For CBC this is £233k in 2015/16.

The Early Years Block for 2015/16 is comprised of 3 elements:

·                Three and four year old entitlement - £3,979.80 (same as 2014/15 rate) multiplied by the January 2014 census for the provisional allocation. This is updated for January 2015 pupil numbers.  

·                Early years pupil premium (EYPP) – the hourly rate of 53p per child per hour (for each eligible child that takes up the full 570 hours with them).The indicative allocation for CBC is estimated at £171k.  Following an autumn survey to check take-up adjustments will be made in January 2016.

·                Funding for disadvantaged two year olds – CBC allocation is £1.64m.  This is allocated based on the number of eligible participating children.

The licences listed in paragraph 18 of the report includes four new contracts which are centrally paid.  The Senior Finance Officer agreed to check the list to ensure no licences have been removed.

The Forum noted the breakdowns of the distribution of the DSG, in paragraph 20 and the centrally retained DSG in paragraph 23.

The 2015/16 Growth Fund is for the use of expanding schools and not for falling roles.  The Fund included an adjustment of £248k which was for payments made to Academies.

Funding Announcement for 2016/17

The DfE announced that the SBUF for 2016/17 and confirmed that the extra £390m fair funding uplift would continue in base-line budgets for 2016/17 and beyond.

The anticipated SBUF for 2016/17 is £4,294.39 (an increase of £5.30 for the former Non-Recoupment Academies (UTC).

The Forum were advised that the LA would be approaching the Secretary of State with a request for another top slice of £500k for the three schools which are closing.  The Forum expressed concerns that a third request would be required if spending continued.

The Senior Finance Officer confirmed that the closing schools were being encouraged to bring in as balanced a budget as possible.  It was noted that one school should have a balanced budget.  The Forum asked that the school be congratulated for their work. 

The Forum considered the F40 group and the lobbying work being carried out for its members and their low funding levels.  It was agreed that the Forum and Councillors would write requesting additional funding.

It was noted that the funding models provided by the F40 could result in a net increase to CBC budgets with only the High Needs Block being adversely impacted in one model.  However, funds are able to be moved between blocks.  Forum members were reminded that these were the latest F40 models, and that some F40 Las were negatively impacted by these models, and therefore should note these figures with caution. 

RESOLVED

1.         That the update to the 2015/16 DSG allocations be noted.

2.         That the update to the 2015/16 Growth Fund be noted.

3.         That the 2016/17 funding announcement be noted.

4.         That the F40 Group update be noted.