Issue - meetings

Report of the Executive Director of Resources

The Cabinet considered a report of the Executive Director of People that informed Members of the results of the consultation on proposed changes to the Fair Funding Scheme of Delegation ("the Scheme") and sought approval for recommended changes to the Scheme and the Fair Funding Formula.

Under Section 48 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998, Local Authorities (LAs) were required to have schemes of delegation which set out the financial controls and arrangements that would operate between schools and the LA. Any proposed revisions to these schemes and/or the Fair Funding Formula must be the subject of consultation and required approval by the Schools Forum.

The Department for Education (DFE) published the "Schools Revenue Funding 2017 to 2018: Operational Guide". This set out the school revenue funding arrangements for 2017/18. The DFE had not introduced any directed changes for 2017/2018.

The Local Authority proposed some changes to the formula, as summarised in section 2 of the report, and the consultation document containing the proposals was circulated to Head Teachers including Academy Head Teachers/Principals, Chairs of Governing Bodies, Trades Unions, Diocesan authorities, the Coventry Governors Association, members of the Schools Forum, Early Years Free Entitlement providers in the private, voluntary and Independent (PVI) sectors and Elected Members on 5th October 2016. The consultation period ended on 4th November 2016. A summary of consultation responses was attached as an appendix to the report.

Stakeholder groups were briefed throughout the consultation period, including Trade Union representatives, Primary and Secondary Head Teachers, and the School Forum. The consultation document also sought to act as an information document to school stakeholders regarding anticipated local budget pressures.

RESOLVED that the Cabinet:

1)  Approves the recommended changes to the Fair Funding Formula and Fair Funding Scheme of Delegation, which are summarised in section 2 of the report.

2)  Delegates authority to the Director Education, Libraries & Adult Learning and the Executive Director of Resources, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Education and the Schools Forum, to make necessary amendments to the final detail of the recommended changes, in order to comply with the School Finance (England) Regulations 2015, and implement any other necessary changes.