Agenda item

To consider a report by the Education Finance Manager (copy enclosed) which details the outcomes following the implementation of the Building Capacity in Schools Project, and outlines the impact of the project on schools and planned future developments.  The report seeks members’ to review the outcomes achieved to date and assess schools’ abilities to improve standards through the use of this resource.

A copy of a report by the Education Finance Manager, which detailed the outcomes achieved following the implementation of the Building Capacity in Schools Project, had been circulated with the papers for the meeting. 

The Education Finance Manager introduced the report and informed the Committee of the project’s impact on schools and the planned future developments to build on and develop this resource further.  A summary of the background to the Building Capacity in Schools Project model, developed in 2011, had been included in the report.  It had been recognised that there was not a one size fits all approach across each cluster and so the model was adapted where appropriate to meet the differential needs.  The report outlined the final model adopted across each Cluster.  The School Budget Forum had approved a revision to the funding formula for schools and the report outlined the final funded model adopted in April, 2012.  In response to a question regarding Business and Finance Manager numbers in secondary schools in comparison with the number of feeder schools, the Education Finance Manager explained that all the schools in question received equal funding and adopted their preferred project model to suit the requirements of their cluster. 

The implementation of Finance Managers had significantly improved the financial position of schools with 2012-13 figures suggesting that the number of schools in financial difficulty having reduced from 8 to 2.  The adopted model had been recognised as best practice by Estyn and by other local authorities in Wales.  The project had developed significantly with GAIA Technologies now adopting the model for the Schools ICT support, and Corporate HR was working with schools to develop a similar model for HR support.

All Business and Finance Managers meet monthly to discuss and develop specific areas across schools including with the forward work programme focusing on key areas including Financial management, Procurement, Training & Development, Health & Safety, Commissioning, HR.  The Group would be pivotal in transforming the way support services in schools work in the future.

The following responses were provided in respect of questions from Members:-

-                                              Sickness absenteeism cover support was provided by the network of School Finance Managers, with additional support available centrally from the Council if required.

-                                              The Authority had the ability to access, monitor and scrutinise school finance systems at any given time and this mitigated the risk of any possible fraudulent activity.  Internal Audit’s active role in monitoring financial activity was also highlighted.

-                                              Details of the reporting process to School Governing Bodies were outlined for Members.  Each school was responsible for their reporting process with Finance Officers attending School Governor meetings if required.

-                                              An outline of cluster arrangements with respect to primary schools in Denbighshire which were feeder schools for out of county secondary schools was provided e.g Ysgol y Castell, Rhuddlan being a feeder school for Ysgol Emrys ap Iwan, Abergele.

-                                              The Education Finance Manager confirmed that she would be meeting with the respective Headteachers to discuss the Business Manager vacancy in Prestatyn in the near future.

In reply to a question, the Head of Customers and Education Support summarised the role of a Headteacher which required both managerial and teaching skills.  She confirmed that training was provided with regard to procurement to assist with the business and budget management aspect of the role, and specific reference was made to the request to increase the delegation rate of funds to schools.

Councillor E.W. Williams referred to the proposal by some AMs that the entire Education Budget be hypothecated.  He questioned whether schools would want such action in respect of delegation, and suggested that elected Members should be questioning the introduction of such measures and seeking clarification in respect of hypothecation from the Welsh Government (WG).  The Education Finance Manager confirmed that a substantial amount of work had been undertaken nationally in respect of delegation, and explained that the targets for delegation for every Authority in Wales would be 85% by 2014/15.  Following further discussion, it was:-

RESOLVED – to:-

(a)                                      receive the report, and

(b)                                      note the outcomes to date and the ability of schools going forward to improve standards through the use of this resource.