Agenda item

Schools Broadband Services

(To receive a report from Mark Popplewell, Head of Finance, Children's Services, which provides the Schools' Forum with an overview of the schools broadband services for all Lincolnshire schools (including academies) from November 2019 to October 2022, and to outline the budget intentions)

Minutes:

The Forum gave consideration to a report from Mark Popplewell, Head of Finance, Children's Services, which provided the Schools Forum with an overview of the schools broadband services for all Lincolnshire schools (including academies) from November 2019 to October 2022.

 

In guiding the Forum through the report the Head of Finance, Children's Services provided some background information to the broadband arrangements.  Details of which were shown on pages 29, 30 and 31 of the report presented.

 

The Forum was reminded that the Schools Forum agreed annually to retain a central budget to fund schools consolidated broadband offer each January.  And, that in 2018/19 the Forum had agreed the schools broadband budget of £1.350m being held in the Central Schools Services Block under 'historic commitments', following the implementation of the national funding formula.

 

The Forum was advised that 320 Lincolnshire schools received the consolidated broadband offer through the contract with the remaining Lincolnshire schools contracting with an IT provider directly.  Details of the broadband service benefits through the contract were shown at the bottom of page 30 and the top of page 31.

 

It was highlighted that the government's school funding reforms were putting restrictions on LAs in retaining central budgets relating to school costs with the move towards the 'hard' national funding formula.  Disappointment was expressed to the approach being adopted by the DfE, as the cost impact on schools of purchasing access to the PSN individually could be considerable, particularly for small and rural schools.

 

The Forum was advised that the consolidated broadband offer contract would come to an end on 31 October 2022.  The Forum was advised that the DfE had confirmed that they would continue to allocate historic commitments in 2019/20 at the same level as 2018/19.  The report sought Schools' Forum approval to retain the Central Schools Services Block historic commitment broadband budget in 2019/20, to continue to meet the revenue costs of the central schools broadband services arrangement.

 

It was highlighted that from government guidance, it was unlikely that historic commitment funding would end in 2020/21 however; funding levels were expected to fall to continue to support the core broadband contract to October 2022.  The LA had recommended earmarking £1.350m to cover any potential shortfalls in revenue funding.

 

The Forum was advised that the direction for travel for schools (post contract) was to have a direct billing relationship with an IT provider, such as EMPSN (rather than it being contracted centrally by the Council), and to meet the costs from their delegated budgets.  Reassurance was given that the LA and EMPSN would be working with schools to develop a timeline of events to ensure a smooth transition took place.  It was highlighted that this would be a new cost for schools to meet from November 2022; and that preparation for this was very important.  It was highlighted that the LA was working with EMPSN to share information with schools to aid their financial planning.

 

Clarification was given that EMPSN was a broker; and that EMPSN offered good value for money.

 

A query was raised regarding nursery school funding for 2022.  It was highlighted that it was hoped that the nursery schools funding review would ensure appropriate levels of funding was received to continue delivering effective provision.

 

RESOLVED

 

1.    That support be given to the Local Authority decision to continue securing access to the Public Sector network through a continuation of the existing arrangements delivered to 31 October 2022.

 

2.    That agreement be given to retaining the Central Schools Block (CSSB) historic commitment broadband budget in 2019/20, to continue meeting the revenue costs of the central schools broadband services arrangement.

 

3.    That support be given to the Local Authority proposals to meeting the costs of the central schools broadband services arrangements to 31 October 2022 including earmarking £1.350m from the DSG underspend.

Supporting documents:

 

 
 
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