Agenda and minutes

19.1     The Lead Member approved as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 30 October 2017.

Disclosure by all Members present of personal interests in matters on the Agenda, the nature of any interest and whether the Member regards the interest as prejudicial under the terms of the Code of Conduct

20.1     There were no disclosures of interest.

Notification of items which the Lead Member considers to be urgent and propose to take at the end of the appropriate part of the Agenda

21.1     There were no urgent items.

22.1     Reports referred to in the minutes below are contained in the minute book.

23.1     The Lead Member for Education and Inclusion, Special Educational Needs and Disability considered a report by the Director of Children’s Services about the proposed expansion of Polegate School.

23.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to approve the expansion of Polegate School from 420 places to 630 places effective from 1 September 2019, contingent upon:

(a) by 28 February 2018 the Lead Member determining an increase to the School’s Published Admission Number (PAN) from 60 to 90 effective from 1 September 2019; and

(b) planning permission for the enlargement of the premises being granted under Part 3 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

Reasons

23.3     The County Council has a statutory duty to ensure there are sufficient school places to meet demand.  The expansion of Polegate School will create additional capacity to serve the new housing developments in the area.  The majority of respondents to the consultation support the proposal to expand.   Concerns raised relate largely to traffic and parking, loss of playing field and facilities and the requirement to enlarge the school hall.  These issues will be addressed through the detailed design process undertaken as part of the planning permission process.

24.1     The Lead Member for Education and Inclusion, Special Educational Needs and Disability considered a report by the Director of Children’s Services about approval of the County Council’s School Funding Formula for 2018/19.  The Lead Member also considered the written comments of Councillor Galley.

24.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to approve the proposals in relation to the East Sussex County Council School Funding Formula for 2018/19:

(1) Primary Phase Proposal: reduce the lump sum by £20,000, increase the English as an Additional Language (EAL) ‘pot’ by £300,000, increase the Prior Attainment ‘pot’ by £600,000, reduce Free School Meals (FSM) by £100,000 and increase the per pupil ‘pot’ by £2,240,000; and

(2) Secondary Phase Proposal: decrease the lump sum by £28,000, increase the EAL ‘pot’ by £169,000, increase the Prior Attainment ‘pot’ by £992,500, decrease the Per Pupil ‘pot’ by £349,500 and reduce the Key Stage 4 (KS4) per pupil rate and increase Key Stage 3 (KS3) per pupil rate to match National Funding Formula KS3 and KS4 rates.

Reasons

24.3     The proposals were developed by the Funding Formula Working Group for consultation with the Schools Forum.  They are based on the agreed principle of working incrementally towards the National Funding Formula, which is deemed the most appropriate as it will support schools with their transition to the new formula.