Issue - meetings

To receive a report outlining the allocation of funding for schools and services for pupils from the Government Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG).

Cabinet Portfolio Holder – Councillor Kam Kaur

Councillor Kam Kaur introduced the annual report outlining the allocation of funding for schools and services for pupils from the Government Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG).

She referred to the Schools’ Forum who made the final decision on central services block, advising that they had turned down the 0.5% disapplication decision for reasons outlined in section 3.5 of the report.  The Council did have the option to refer this to the Secretary of State who had overruled their decision. 

The report outlined the Schools Block DSG increase of £31m, which was mainly due to an increase in pupil numbers; outlined the Early Years Block DSG allocation of funding and the High Needs DSG budget.  Councillor Kam highlighted that there was an expectation that the cost of schools and educational settings could be contained within the level of DSG but if spending continues at the current levels this would not be sustainable.  She recognised the lack of viable options available without further external funding or a change in legislation. 

Councillor Roodhouse queried the maintained nurseries recommendation against the government position, requesting an update setting out where WCC were.  In response, Councillor Kaur advised that an early years setting briefing had been circulated recently but a further update could be provided.  She was also meeting with early provider settings to understand if they were ready for the changes and the impact this would have on them.

Resolved

That Cabinet:

1)    Endorses the Schools Block DSG allocation, as detailed in Section 3, following the Department for Education’s (DfE) approval of the Council’s disapplication to request a 0.5% transfer of funding from the Schools Block to the High Needs Block at a value of £2.283m;

2)    Approves the Early Years Block DSG allocation of funding for all early years providers as outlined in Section 4;

3)    Approves the allocation of the High Needs DSG budget, as set out in Section 5; and

Supports the proposals for allocating the Central School Services DSG budget, as set out in Section 6.