Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

There were none.

Any county councillor may, by giving notice to the Proper Officer by 9 am two working days before the meeting, ask a question on any matter in respect of the Cabinet Member’s delegated powers.

The number of questions which may be asked by any councillor at any one meeting is limited to two (or one question with notice and a supplementary question at the meeting) and the time for questions will be limited to 30 minutes in total. As with questions at Council, any questions which remain unanswered at the end of this item will receive a written response.

Questions submitted prior to the agenda being despatched are shown below and will be the subject of a response from the appropriate Cabinet Member or such other councillor or officer as is determined by the Cabinet Member, and shall not be the subject of further debate at this meeting. Questions received after the despatch of the agenda, but before the deadline, will be shown on the Schedule of Addenda circulated at the meeting, together with any written response which is available at that time.

There were none.

Members of the public who wish to speak at this meeting can attend the meeting in person or ‘virtually’ through an online connection. 

To facilitate ‘hybrid’ meetings we are asking that requests to speak or present a petition are submitted by no later than 9am four working days before the meeting i.e., 9am on Wednesday 11 January 2023.  Requests to speak should be sent to colm.ocaomhanaigh@oxfordshire.gov.uk

If you are speaking ‘virtually’, you may submit a written statement of your presentation to ensure that your views are taken into account. A written copy of your statement can be provided no later than 9am 2 working days before the meeting. Written submissions should be no longer than 1 A4 sheet.

There were none.

Cabinet Member: Deputy Leader, including Children, Education & Young People’s Services

Forward Plan Ref: 2022/140

Contact: Sarah Fogden, Finance Business Partner, 07557 082613

Report by Corporate Director for Children’s Services (CMDDL4).

To seek approval for the funding formula for schools.

The Cabinet Member is RECOMMENDED to approve the final funding formula for 2023/24 subject to the decision by the Secretary of State for Education regarding permission to transfer 0.5% (£2.38m) from the Schools block to support High Needs expenditure.

Deputy Leader of the Council (inc Children, Education & Young People's Services) invited Sarah Fogden (Finance Business Partner – Children) to give an update on this matter.

Sarah Fodgen commented that the proposal was about continuation of the National Funding Formula as per Oxfordshire County Council policy used for over last 5 years. The funding was extremely tight to deliver NFF with current model showing only £40k spare on £477m funding.  At the DfE formula webinar, held on 16^th January this year, there was a lot of discussion around the impact of the rate revaluation effective 1^st April 2023.  The Council were still receiving rates information from District/Town Councils which may have impact on the bottom line. This was discussed at School Forum meeting today.

Deputy Leader thanked Sarah Fodgen for an update and informed the meeting that she would amend the recommendation by adding that ‘should there be a shortfall of funding, the Deputy Leader would agree to endorse the methodology of a % reduction in Age Weighted Pupil Unit (AWPU) to balance the funding’.

DECISION

Deputy Leader of the Council (inc Children, Education & Young People's Services) AGREED to APPROVE the final funding formula for 2023/24 subject to the decision by the Secretary of State for Education regarding permission to transfer 0.5% (£2.38m) from the Schools’ block to support High Needs expenditure. Should there be a shortfall of funding, the Deputy Leader of the Council (inc Children, Education & Young People's Services) also AGREED to endorse the methodology of a % reduction in Age Weighted Pupil Unit (AWPU) to balance the funding