Agenda item

a.  2021/22 outturn

b.  2022/23 allocation criteria and confirmation of topslice

Tony Madden presented the paper summarising the position with the Growth Fund and the proposed allocation criteria for 2022-23.

Appendix A of the report showed the predicted outturn for 2021-22, updated from the previous report in May 2021.  The carry forward from 2020-21 was £65k, with a top slice of £750k. A small amount of contingency being held;  this had been reduced to two month’s worth of funding;  as the LA was not expecting to use this, a positive carry forward into 2022-23 was expected.

Forum was notified in May 2021 that there would be a change to the way in which expansions at academies would be funded, to provide funding for the academic year in once tranche covering September to August. Forum agreed to the changes with 2022-23 being the adjustment year.  Appendix B covered the catch-up year 2022-23; the proposed top slice of £950k had been noted by Forum in May 2021 but this included the additional academy recoupment required by the adjustment and was expected to be the last year of any large top slice. Two secondary schools (Westgate and Wexham) required support from the Growth Fund but both were coming towards the end of their expansion. Two contingency classes were included in recognition of the peak of demand for year seven at secondary.

Appendix C showed the preliminary forecast for 2023-24, indicating a significantly reduced top slice of £300k with only one school requiring support.

It was confirmed that the LA was not proposing any changes to the allocation criteria, which would cover bulge classes, any permanent expansions by a form of entry at maintained or academies, and any new places that are requested by the local authority in excess of planned admission numbers.

The Chair thanked Tony Madden for his very clear summary of the position.  Maggie Waller asked whether the full £950k top slice was needed in 2022-23 given that there was a forecast underspend in excess of £160k. Tony Madden advised that this was a cautious approach in line with guidance from finance colleagues, and that the forecast underspend was in line with previous years.

The Chair reiterated to Forum members that the £950k top slice had been noted by Forum in May 2021. Members approved the allocation criteria and noted the forecast position for each of the three years 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023-24.