Agenda item

Agenda item

Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG)

 

To receive an update on the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG)

 

Minutes:

 

The Forum received an update on the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) and Growth Fund allocation for 2016/17, funding arrangements for 2017/18 and information on stage two of the Government consultation on the Schools National Funding Formula and High Needs National Funding Formula.

 

Points and comments included:

 

·         The funding announcement for 2017/18 included the ability of local authorities to centrally retain DSG to fund central services previously funded within the retained duties rate (for all schools) and to centrally retain DSG to fund services previously funded within the general duties rate (for maintained schools only) with the agreement of maintained school members of the Schools Forum. As a result of the delay of the second stage of the consultation and the receipt of the central block, the Education Services Grant (ESG) had been tipped into the DSG. Approval was needed from Schools Forum to retain DSG to fund central services.

·         The introduction of an annual school improvement monitoring and brokering grant for local authorities from September 2017 and plans for a new £140M Strategic School Improvement Fund. Maintained schools and academies would be able to apply for this fund, with the support of a teaching school, local authority or Regional Schools Commissioner.

·         An increase in DSG funding of £52,514k for the Schools Admissions team had previously been agreed by Schools Forum. As the application was subsequently refused by the Secretary of State, the Education Services Grant (ESG) had been used to fund the shortfall. The request for the same amount of funding was being re-submitted as the ESG was no longer available.

 

In response to questions, the Forum noted the following;

 

·         Concern was expressed about the validity of the request for the identical amount of DSG funding for the Schools Admissions Team, given the increasing financial pressures schools and other providers were facing for example, changes in staffing costs and the increase in pension contributions. The Forum was advised that the funding requested covered the amount the Admissions Service costs the council and also took into account some changes to the process electronically, and the increase in services due to the rise in pupil numbers and the number of schools using the Admissions service. Other funding options and opportunities in relation to this were being explored.

·         Any unspent funds at year end would be added back to the schools budgets in the following year.

·         The consultation for stage two of the Schools National Funding Formula and High Needs National Funding Formula closes on the 22 March 2017.

 

RESOLVED

 

1.     that the update to 2016/17 DSG allocations was noted and commented on;

 

2.     that the update to 2016/17 Growth Fund was noted and commented on;

 

3.     that the 2017/18 funding announcement was noted and commented on;

 

4.     that the request for the 2017/18 DSG allocation for Growth Fund be set at £2M was approved;

 

5.     that the request for the central retention of the “central budget for services” for 2017/18, previously funded by the retained rate of the Education Services Grant at £612,216 was approved;

 

6.     that the request for the 2017/18 DSG allocation for Admissions be set at £313,004 was approved;

 

7.     that the request for 2017/18 DSG allocation for School Forum to be set at £3k was approved;

 

8.     that stage two of the Government consultations on Schools and High Needs National Funding Formula was noted and commented on.

 

9.     that the DSG funding costs requested for the Schools Admissions Team would be re-explored.

 

 

 

 

 

Supporting documents: