PAPER G

EDUCATION, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND LIFELONG LEARNING SELECT COMMITTEE - 20 OCTOBER 2003

UPDATE ON THE WORK OF THE SCHOOLS FORUM

STRATEGIC DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

REASON FOR SELECT COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

The Select Committee of 19 May 2003 asked for a regular update on the work of the Schools Forum.

ACTION REQUIRED BY THE SELECT COMMITTEE

That the Committee:

1. Note the work of the Forum and anticipate receiving recommendations from it regarding this year’s Budget Settlement.

2. Take the opportunity to question/clarify its work up to this point

3. Decide whether they wish to get a view, other than from officers, by inviting the Chair and/or other members of the Schools Forum to a future meeting of the Committee.

BACKGROUND

Paragraph 1.1. of Paper C (19 May 2003) gives the background to the establishment of the Schools Forum and lists the principal functions it is to perform. Members have been receiving the minutes of its meetings and will, therefore, have noted that it has been concerned with:

· the schools’ funding formula

· the scheme of delegation relating to the distribution and use of the Schools’ Budget

· understanding the distribution of funds relating to S.E.N.

· analysing contracts that are ‘bought-back’ by schools and proposing further research on Schools Catering and the Schools Library Service

· receiving a report on non-teaching staff job evaluation and evaluating the possible impact of changes associated with the national re-modelling of the school workforce.

RELEVANT PLANS, POLICIES, STRATEGIES AND PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

It had always been the policy of the L.E.A. to consult with schools about the distribution of finance. The Schools Forum is a valuable standing group that can now perform that function as well as those listed in Paper C (19 May 2003)

CONSULTATION PROCESS

Paper C (19 May 2003) gives details of the consultations involved in the establishment of the Schools Forum.

Members will note that Forum members have been asked to consult their ‘constituencies’ regarding their desire for further research into the ‘ buy-back’ contract for Schools Catering

FINANCIAL, LEGAL, CRIME AND DISORDER IMPLICATIONS

The costs of the Forum are to be met from the Schools Budget.

The recommendations from the Forum may well have considerable implications for the Council Budget Process.

The legal basis for the Schools Forum is the statutory instrument “The Schools Forums (England) Regulations 2002”.

There are no immediate Crime and Disorder implications.

BACKGROUND PAPERS USED IN THE PREPARATION OF THIS REPORT

Minutes of the Schools Forum – February to September 2003

Contact Point : Kim Johnson, Assistant Director, Education and Community Development

Tel: 823410 e-mail: [email protected]

DAVID PETTITT

Director, Education and Community Development