Agenda Item 5

Report to:	Schools Forum
Date of meeting:	18 Nov 2022
Report By:	Alison Jeffery
Title:	Central School Services Block (CSSB) 2023/24
Purpose:	To provide an update on the CSSB allocations for 2023/24

RECOMMENDATIONS

1) Schools Forum are asked to note and approve the proposals for the Central School Services Block for 2023/24.

1 Background

1.1 The DSG for 2023/24 will be allocated by the DfE, like 2022/23, into four notional blocks: Schools, High Needs, Early Years and Central School Services Block (CSSB). Each block is calculated on a different basis and subject to separate regulations as to eligible expenditure.

1.2 This paper specifically relates to the CSSB. This block includes funding that has been allocated to Local Authorities (LAs) to carry out functions on behalf of pupils in both maintained schools and academies and has two distinct elements:

· Ongoing responsibilities This comprises:

o funds specified by the DfE and retained centrally (Admissions, Copyright (CLA) licenses and Servicing Schools Forum); and

o funds that were previously known as Retained Duties ESG which, up to 2017/18, the LA received and held separately for its on-going responsibilities to maintained schools and academies.

· Historic Commitments These are what were previously known as “Combined Services” and is funding for previously specified financial commitments.

2 2023/24 On-going responsibilities

2.1 The DfE fund On-going responsibilities on a per pupil basis using the Oct census NOR and have increased the funding rate for 2023/24, from £36.43, to £37.26 per pupil.

2.2 As with 2022/23, the LA is asking to retain the full amount that the DfE is allocating for 2023/24. Because the overall funding has increased due to a rate increase and not NOR, the increase would be distributed across all of the budget areas.

2.3 Table 1 shows the 2023/24 proposals for the ‘On-going Responsibilities’ element of the CSSB which totals £2.36m. (Please note that this is separate from the Schools Block DSG which funds budget shares/ GAGs).

Table 1: Proposals for 2023/24 On-going Responsibilities

3. Historic Commitments

3.1 The Historic Commitments are funded by the DfE as a lump sum amount, and for 2023/24, the DfE are allocating £2.52m to ESCC for Historic Commitments.

3.2 The LA are not intending to use any of this DSG funding element and instead propose to transfer the full £2.52m to schools and academies (Based on Oct ’22 NOR).

3.3 Table 2 is a summary of the proposals for 2023/24 funding for historic commitments.

Table 2: Proposals for 2023/24 Historic Commitments

Historic Commitments	2022/23 Allocations	CSSB Changes	2023/24 Proposed Allocations


Funds transferred to Schools	£3,151,400	-£630,300	£2,521,100
*Total	£3,151,400	-£630,300	£2,521,100

*Please note that the DfE reduce the Historic commitments value by 20% each year. This means that for 2023/24, the value has reduced by £630k.

4 Statutory duties for Maintained Schools

4.1 LAs are also still able to seek approval from maintained schools to retain some Schools Block DSG (from maintained schools only) to cover the statutory duties that are carried out for maintained schools that were previously funded through the General ESG.

4.2 ESCC has not proposed to do this in the past, and given the ongoing pressures on school budgets, we are proposing to continue in this way for 2023/24, although there continues to be financial pressures on the LA with this approach.

5. Summary and Conclusion

5.1 This report lays out the proposals for the retention of the £2.36m for ‘on-going responsibilities’ and the transferring of £2.52m ‘Historic Commitments’ to schools and academies in addition to their budget shares/ GAG. Schools Forum members are asked to approve these proposals.

Alison Jeffery

Director Childrens Services

Contact Officer: Ed Beale
Tel. No. 01273 337984
Email: Edward.beale@eastsussex.gov.uk