Agenda item - Schools Funding 2020/21

Report of the Executive Director for Families, Children & Learning (Copy

attached)

RESOLVED: That the Committee agreed –

(i)             To note the funding streams utilised to fund schools.

(ii)            To note the latest position relating to school balances as at the end of the 2019/20 financial year and licensed deficits agreed for the 2020/21 financial year.

(iii)          To note the additional government financial support to schools for Covid-19.

(iv)          To note the anticipated future school funding arrangements for 2021/22 and 2022/23.

22.1    The Committee considered the report of the Executive Director Families Children & Learning regarding school’s funding for 2020/21. The report was introduced by the Head of Finance (Children's & Adults).

22.2    Councillor Shanks noted that schools could bid for additional funding and asked for more information on that.  The Head of Finance advised that schools could bid directly for that money, and so far £178,000 had been reimbursed for issues such as increased premises costs, free school meals and additional cleaning costs etc.

22.3    Councillor Simson referred to the de-delegation of budgets for issues such as insurance and contingency and noted that some schools had opted out of Council insurance this year and asked if those schools would still have their budgets de-delegated. The Head of Finance said that four schools had opted out of maternity leave and long-term sickness cover, and the de-delegation related to buildings and contents insurance which no schools had opted out of.

22.4    RESOLVED: That the Committee agreed –

(i)             To note the funding streams utilised to fund schools.

(ii)            To note the latest position relating to school balances as at the end of the 2019/20 financial year and licensed deficits agreed for the 2020/21 financial year.

(iii)          To note the additional government financial support to schools for Covid-19.

(iv)          To note the anticipated future school funding arrangements for 2021/22 and 2022/23.