Decision details

2019/20 Budget proposals

Decision Maker: Schools Forum

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: No

Is subject to call in?: No

Decisions:

 

 

a.      The Barnet Schools Budget 2019/20

 

IH clarified that this section required decisions by Schools Forum on recommendations i – iv.  The decisions are needed to enable submission of the Authority Proforma Tool by the deadline of 21 January, confirming Barnet’s formula funding proposals for 2019/20.

 

 

IH explained that, following the announcement that an additional £0.964m HN allocation funding will be received in 2019/20, Barnet council has chosen to withdraw the request submitted to the Secretary of State to transfer 0.5% of the Schools block allocation to the High Needs block.

 

 

IH went on to highlight that now the transfer to the HN block is no longer required, the Minimum Funding Guarantee (MFG) can be set at 0%, ensuring no school in Barnet will receive less money per pupil in 2019/20 than it did in 2018/19.  To ensure this level of MFG protection is affordable, the cap on gains has been set at 0.5% per pupil for those school gaining from the National Funding Formula.

 

 

Schools Forum needs to agree the funding rates shown in Table 2, the 0% MFG and 0.5% cap as proposed, and also must agree the local criteria applied for growth and split site funding.

 

 

IH then explained the figures shown in Appendices I and II. Appendix I shows the Minimum Funding Guarantee per pupil funding in 2018/19, and shows the top-up or cap value applied to schools in 2019/20 in line with the 0% protection/+0.5% cap proposed.  Appendix II then shows the indicative school level formula funding, the de-delegation (£0.582m) and the £1m de-delegation for Education Functions (former ESG services) which the Secretary of State has now approved. 

 

 

As a result of SoS approval for services formerly funded from the ESG to be charged to the budgets of maintained primary and secondary schools, the modelling shown in Appendices III & IV are no longer relevant.

 

 

ML queried the lump sum value for 2019/20 in the National Funding Formula.  CG confirmed it remains the same as 2018/19 - £120,783.

 

 

KN asked about Dollis Infant and Junior schools being shown as a primary school in the models and asked if the merger had been confirmed.  IH confirmed that the figure was dependent on the final decision following consultation and would be changed to 2 separate schools if the merger does not go ahead.

 

 

SV asked if there were any proposed changes to the hourly funding rate for 2 year olds. CG confirmed that the rate will remain the same as in 2018/19 - £6 per hour.

 

 

SH drew attention to the level of Minimum Funding Guarantee protection applied because of the 0% MFG proposal, with a total cost of £8.666m.  IH replied that the National Funding Formula rates adversely affect the majority of Barnet schools, and the NFF affects London areas more significantly than elsewhere.  Barnet has decided to protect schools by offering a 0% MFG, but the standard MFG under the National Funding Formula would allow schools to lose a maximum of -1.5% per pupil against 2018/19 levels.

 

 

IK sought clarification on when the High Needs block position will be finalised and what the final position may look like. CG responded by saying that the anticipated position will not be vastly different to the current (gross) figure of £49.977m. There are likely to be 2 main changes to the block allocation, the first being a reduction in commissioned ARP places at London Academy; the second is the number of HN pupils imported to Barnet.  As a result, it is anticipated that the High Needs block will increase marginally.

 

 

IK queried if there would be any increase in top-up band values this year. CG replied that, in line with the Minimum Funding Guarantee of 0% for mainstream schools and as a result of reported pressures in the High Needs Block, it is not possible to increase top-up rates.

 

 

LH requested clarification on the multiplier applied to the split site travel factor for secondary schools.   CG confirmed that if there is more than one mile between sites, the multiplier is 1.4; for those schools with split sites under a mile apart, the multiplier is 0.2.

 

 

GK then asked members to vote on proposals i – iv.  Proposal v is withdrawn in light of the Secretary of State approval for the Education Function de-delegation.

 

 

Proposal i - To note and agree the 2019/20 draft budget proposals as shown.

Voting: Agreed unanimously.

 

 

Proposal ii – To agree the 2019/20 formula factor rates for the APT submission.

Voting: Unanimously in favour.

 

 

Proposal iii – To agree the 2019/20 Growth funding criteria as proposed.

Voting: Agreed unanimously.

 

 

Proposal iv – To agree the split site criteria as proposed.

Voting: Agreed unanimously.

 

Publication date: 29/01/2019

Date of decision: 15/01/2019

Decided at meeting: 15/01/2019 - Schools Forum

Accompanying Documents: