Issue - meetings

1.         Schools Block Budget 2024/25 Financial Year:

a.    To approve the Local Authority formula for allocating resources to Hammersmith & Fulham schools for 2024/25 as set out in Appendix 1, the Authority Proforma Tool (APT) for setting school budgets.

b.    To approve the National Funding Formula (NFF) transitional funding formula factor rates (as set out in Appendix 1) as the basis for calculating the 2024/25 schools funding formula, together with a 0.5% per pupil Minimum Funding Guarantee (MFG) protection for individual schools versus 2023/24 levels with respect to pupil led funding.

c.    To approve the transfer of £1.177m (1.0% of the total schools' block allocation) from the schools' block to the high needs block in the 2024/25 financial year. This is to support high needs education expenditure for special educational needs in Hammersmith and Fulham.  This is subject to Ministerial agreement from the Department of Education.

d.    To approve de-delegation budgets of £0.622m for maintained mainstream schools only which was agreed by Schools Forum on 16 January 2024.

e.    To approve the education functions budgets of £0.307m for maintained mainstream schools only, which was agreed by Schools Forum on 16 January 2024.

2.         Central Services Schools Block Budget 2024/25.

a.    To approve the proposed budget allocation for Central Services Schools Block DSG totalling £2.106m.

Councillor Aliya Afzal-Khan asked what services comprised the historic commitment to Central Services Schools Block (CSSB) and how they would be impacted by the CSSB allocation for 2024/25. She also asked how the High Needs Block expenditure would be spent to directly benefit young people and children with special education needs.

Councillor Alex Sanderson, Cabinet Member for Children and Education, replied that she would respond to both her questions in writing.

AGREED UNANIMOUSLY BY THE CABINET MEMBERS:

1.         Schools Block Budget 2024/25 Financial Year:

a.    To approve the Local Authority formula for allocating resources to Hammersmith & Fulham schools for 2024/25 as set out in Appendix 1, the Authority Proforma Tool (APT) for setting school budgets.

b.    To approve the National Funding Formula (NFF) transitional funding formula factor rates (as set out in Appendix 1) as the basis for calculating the 2024/25 schools funding formula, together with a 0.5% per pupil Minimum Funding Guarantee (MFG) protection for individual schools versus 2023/24 levels with respect to pupil led funding.

c.    To approve the transfer of £1.177m (1.0% of the total schools' block allocation) from the schools' block to the high needs block in the 2024/25 financial year. This is to support high needs education expenditure for special educational needs in Hammersmith and Fulham.  This is subject to Ministerial agreement from the Department of Education.

d.    To approve de-delegation budgets of £0.622m for maintained mainstream schools only which was agreed by Schools Forum on 16 January 2024.

e.    To approve the education functions budgets of £0.307m for maintained mainstream schools only, which was agreed by Schools Forum on 16 January 2024.

2.         Central Services Schools Block Budget 2024/25.

a.    To approve the proposed budget allocation for Central Services Schools Block DSG totalling £2.106m.