Issue - meetings

To seek agreement from the Forum for additional financial support to schools, in particular, approval of new or amended applications for licensed deficit arrangements.  An update is also provided on the current position in respect of previously agreed financial support arrangements.

The Forum considered a report which sought agreement from the Schools Forum in respect of proposals for additional financial support to schools.  in particular.  approval of new or

amended applications for licensed deficit arrangements. An update was also provided on the current position in respect of previously agreed financial support arrangements.

Paul Clark summarised that good progress had been made by schools in terms of reducing the aggregate level of licensed deficits which was expected to reduce to £0.495m as at 31 March 2023. Three schools had fully repaid their licensed deficits.  with four remaining in place. There had been no new requests for licensed deficit agreements. There were two schools which did not have a full replacement schedule in place.  and this equated to £0.150m of debt. The department was having regular meetings with those schools.

Easthampstead Park Community School was congratulated on fully repaying the licensed deficit following a significant period of financial difficulty.

RESOLVED

1.     that subject to the school governors confirming the relevant financing schedule and compliance with the associated terms and conditions of the deficit scheme the Schools Forum AGREES:

a.     the licensed deficit agreement with full repayment plan for Ascot Heath Primary School be amended to permit a deficit of up to £0.250m for 2022-23.  £0.150m for 2023-24 and £0.075m for 2024-25 before returning to a surplus in 2025-26; and

b.     that further work continues with schools that have yet to formulate a full repayment plan.  with the following deficit limits agreed for 2022-23:

i.      £0.100m for Winkfield St Mary’s Primary; and

ii.     £0.110m for Cranbourne; and

2.   to NOTE that the following schools have fully repaid their licensed deficits:

i.        Sandhurst Secondary;

ii.       Harmanswater Primary; and

iii.     Easthampstead Park Secondary.

To seek agreement from the Forum for additional financial support to schools, in particular, approval of new or amended applications for licensed deficit arrangements.  An update is also provided on the current position in respect of previously agreed financial support arrangements.