Decision details
*Republished - no longer subject to call in* Disapplication Request for Transfer of 1% of the Schools Block Funding to the High Needs Block for 2019/20
Decision Maker: Corporate Director Children and Young People's Services
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: Yes
Is subject to call in?: No
Decision:
Approval for a disapplication request to be
made to the Secretary of State for Education to transfer 1% of the
Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) funding from the Schools Block to
the
High Needs Block in 2019/20.
Reasons for the decision:
PLEASE NOTE This decision was originally
published on or near the date of the decision and so call in no
longer applies. It has been re-published as part of the change in
committee management system that we use.
Although the Schools Block is ring-fenced in 2019-20, it is
possible to transfer up to 0.5% of Schools Block funding out with
the agreement of the Schools Forum. Transfers of more than 0.5% of
the Schools Block require the local authority to make a
Disapplication Request to the Secretary of State. Equally, where
the Schools Forum has turned down a proposal from the authority to
move funding out of the Schools Block, but the authority wishes to
proceed with the transfer, a disapplication request can be used.
Disapplication requests need to be submitted by 30 November
2018.
In 2018-19, following consultation with schools and subsequent
approval by Schools Forum, 0.5% of Schools Block funding was
transferred to the High Needs Block. The increasing pressures for
High Needs services and support has resulted in a projected
£5.7m overspend in 2018/19; this is offset, in part, by the
transfer from the Schools Budget. This leaves a £4.1m
projected deficit at the end of 2018-19. Given the increasing
financial pressure resulting from the 2018/19 overspend and an
expected continuation of the rise in demand for funded Education,
Health and Care Plans, the local authority, again, needs to
transfer funding in 2019-20.
A funding consultation was undertaken with schools in October 2018
and their views were requested on a 0.5% and a 1% transfer of
funding from the Schools Block to the High Needs budget. The
majority of the schools responding to the consultation indicated
support for a 0.5% transfer of funding. The North Yorkshire Schools
Forum considered the results of the consultation at its meeting on
19 November 2018. Whilst recognising the financial pressures on the
High Needs budget, the Schools Forum did not support the submission
of a disapplication request to the Secretary of State for a 1%
transfer of funding from the Schools Block to the High Needs
budget. They did, however, support a 0.5% transfer in the event of
the LA submitting a disapplication request for a 1% transfer and
that request being refused by the Secretary of State.
Whilst the Local Authority recognises the views expressed by
schools and the Schools Forum, the Local Authority has a corporate
duty to address the forecast budget overspend of £5.7m on the
High Needs budget. it is felt that there is no alternative but to
submit a disapplication request to the Secretary of State to
transfer 1% of funding from the Schools Block to the High Needs
Block. An agreement of the 1% funding transfer will enable both the
transformation of High Needs provision and services as identified
in the new Strategic Plan and the associated re-shaping of the High
Needs budget.
Publication date: 30/04/2021
Date of decision: 30/11/2018