Agenda Item No. 7

The Vale of Glamorgan Council

Learning and Culture Scrutiny Committee: 19th June 2017

Report of the Director of Learning and Skills

Schools Budget Forum Representation

Purpose of the Report

1. To seek nomination of a Learning and Culture Scrutiny Committee Member to the Schools Budget Forum.

Recommendation

1. That the Scrutiny Committee nominates a Member to sit on the Schools Budget Forum.

Reason for the Recommendation

1. The membership of the Schools Budget Forum includes a Member of the Learning and Culture Scrutiny Committee as well as the Cabinet Member.

Background

2. All Councils are required to have a Schools Budget Forum in accordance with Section 47A of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 as amended by the Education Act 2002 and The Schools Budget Forums (Wales) Regulations.
3. The functions of the Schools Budget Forum are set out below:

• The Authority is required to consult the Schools Budget Forum annually on its schools budget. The Authority can also consult the Forum, as it sees fit, on any other matters concerning the funding of schools.
• The Authority has to consult the Schools Budget Forum on any proposed revisions to its Scheme for Financing Schools. Consultation with the Schools Budget Forum is additional to the statutory requirement to consult governing bodies and headteachers on revisions to the scheme on an individual basis.
• The Authority must consult the Schools Budget Forum on any proposed changes to the factors and criteria to be taken into account, or the methods, principles and rules to be adopted, in relation to its formula for funding schools. This includes consultation on the likely financial effect of any changes to the funding formula. Consultation must be carried out in sufficient time to allow the Forum's views to be taken into account in the determination of the Authority's formula and in the determination of the schools' budget shares before the start of the financial year.
• The regulations stipulate that the Schools Budget Forum must also be consulted on service level agreements for the supply of goods and services by the Authority to schools. Again, the authority must consult the Forum at least three months before the date on which the agreement is due to be finalised.

Relevant Issues and Options

4. The current membership of the Schools Budget Forum is shown below:

Note - other Local Authority officers attend the Forum in an advisory capacity

5. Headteachers are elected to the forum by their cluster groups. Governors are elected by the Vale School Governors Association.
6. The Schools Budget Forum must have a minimum of 15 members to ensure that the membership of the Forum is not too limited and the interests of schools are properly represented. The Forum should be kept to a manageable size in order to facilitate constructive discussions. In view of this, the Vale of Glamorgan's Schools Budget Forum has a maximum of 21 members.
7. Section 47A of the Schools Standards and Framework Act 1998, describes school forums as representing the views of governing bodies and Headteachers. The majority of the forum (at least 75%), therefore, is made up of school members who are elected to represent governing bodies or Headteachers of maintained schools.
8. The regulations stipulate that no more than 25% of the forum can be made up of non-school members including representatives of the authority. The only representatives of the Local Authority who have voting rights on the schools forum are those included as part of the non-schools membership. The composition of the non-schools membership includes representation from the Local Authority and teaching or other trade unions with members in Wales.
9. Members are able to nominate a substitute to attend meetings of the Schools Budget Forum in their absence.
10. The period of office for both schools and non-school members is 3 years.
11. The meeting dates for the remainder of the 2017/18 financial year are as follows: (venue to be confirmed)

• Wednesday 20th September 2017, 8.30 am
• Wednesday 15th November 2017, 8.30 am
• Wednesday 17th January 2018, 8.30 am
• Wednesday 14th March 2018, 8.30 am.

Resource Implications (Financial and Employment)

12. There are no resource implications arising directly from this report.

Sustainability and Climate Change Implications

13. There are no sustainability and climate change implications arising directly from this report.

Legal Implications (to Include Human Rights Implications)

14. There are no legal implications arising directly from this report.

Crime and Disorder Implications

15. There are no crime and disorder implications arising directly from this report.

Equal Opportunities Implications (to include Welsh Language issues)

16. There are no equal opportunities implications arising directly from this report.

Corporate/Service Objectives

17. This report is consistent with the Council's priorities for an aspirational and culturally vibrant Vale.

Policy Framework and Budget

18. The recommendations of this report are within existing policy framework and budget.

Consultation (including Ward Member Consultation)

19. Ward Member Consultation is not appropriate.

Relevant Scrutiny Committee

20. Learning and Culture.

Background Papers

None.

Contact Officer

Nicola Monckton, Finance Manager

Officers Consulted

Trevor Baker, Head of Strategy, Community Learning and Resources

Carolyn Michael, Operational Manager of Accountancy

Responsible Officer:

Paula Ham, Director of Learning and Skills