Agenda item

Growth Fund Report 2021/22

Minutes:

Tony Madden presented this report to inform Forum members of the Growth Fund outturn for 2021-22, provide a best indication of the outturn for the current year 2022-23 and the current projection for 2023-24.

 

Tony Madden drew Forum members’ attention to the presentation of primary place planning in three areas West, Central and East, which each have very different requirements and different scenarios. The West area has a significantly reduced birth rate, creating a surplus in all year groups;  the central area is under mild pressure in some year groups, but with an increased surplus at Reception, while the East is full in all seven year groups. There is built capacity around Slough for this pressure but some schools have reduced their PANS and the LA doesn’t necessarily have access to those places. However, the LA does not need any new schools at primary level.

 

At secondary level there are the right number of schools, in the right places across the town. The peak demand is expected over the next two years for year seven and there is enough capacity at secondary level.

 

Tony Madden confirmed there were no changes to the process for allocating funding through the growth fund.  Criteria had been agreed in January 2022; the funding would be allocated based on bulge classes, expansion by form of entry, larger classes or numbers in excess of PAN, and new schools. 

 

The financial outturn for 2021-22 is £21,814. The list of schools qualifying for growth funding is reducing every year, with only two schools that qualify for permanent expansion funding in 2022-23, which are Westgate and Wexham. This is the last qualifying year for Westgate ; the final year for Wexham will be 2023-24. The main purpose of growth funding going forward is about contingencies and for bulge classes; there is pressure in many primary year groups, and the LA wants to hold some funding in reserve.

 

For 2022-23 there is a DSG top slice of £950k as previously agreed by Forum. Tony Madden reminded Forum members that 2022-23 is a ‘catch up’ year as a result of the decision taken to align growth fund payments for academies with the academic year, with two commitments against the growth fund, as opposed to every other year having one. The forecast topslice for 2023-24 for next year is only £300,000.

 

The Chair thanked Tony Madden for a clear presentation and asked Forum members to note the contents of the report.  There were no comments or questions.

 

Tony Madden left the meeting.

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