Committee Report: LA Benchmarking Tables 2006-07
Report to: |
Cabinet |
|---|---|
Date: |
16 th November 2006 |
Subject: |
LA Benchmarking Tables 2006-07 |
Report of: |
Director of Children & Young People’s Services |
Contact officer: |
Julie Taylor - j.taylor@wiganmbc.gov.uk |
Purpose / summary: |
To share with Cabinet the LA benchmarking information for 2006-07 and highlight the key comparators. |
Alternative options considered and reason for selecting the one recommended: |
N/A |
Recommendation / decision: |
To note the content of the report and the actions being taken. |
Key Decision: |
This report does not involve a key decision. |
Implications: |
|
Financial: |
None |
Staffing: |
None |
Policy: |
None |
Equal Opportunities - Has a Diversity Impact Assessment been conducted? |
No |
Wards affected: |
All |
Special Interest Members – Which have been consulted |
None |
Tracking/Process:
|
Consultation |
Ward Members |
Partners |
|---|---|---|---|
|
- |
- |
- |
Panel |
Overview & Scrutiny |
Cabinet |
Council |
- |
- |
16 November 2006 |
- |
List of Background Papers in accordance with Section 100D of the Local Government Act 1972:
Document |
Date |
File Reference |
Place of Inspection |
|---|---|---|---|
Section 52 Budget Statement 2006-07 |
31 March 2006 |
|
CYPS Headquarters, Progress House |
Proper Officer |
G. Rowney |
|---|---|
Date |
30 th October 2006 |
1.0 Introduction
1.1 The DfES has published detailed education expenditure data tables for each local authority, based upon their 2006/07 and 2007/08 Section 52 Budget Statements. This report focuses on the 2006/07 data only.
1.2 The data facilitates benchmarking by LAs and School Forums. The information can be accessed at: http://www.dfes.gov.uk/localauthorities/section52/subPage.cfm?action=section52.default&ID=58
There is also a link from the school funding website on Teachernet.
1.3 The tables identify year on year changes for certain expenditure items, details of per pupil increases in funding and the impact of the per pupil Minimum Funding Guarantee. There is also a full comparison of S52 expenditure categories on a cost per pupil basis.
1.4 This report highlights some of the key comparators and provides a full analysis of the S52 per pupil expenditure in Appendix 1.
2.0 Key Comparators
2.1 Detailed below are a number of key comparators:
2.1.1 School Funding
|
|
Wigan |
Metropolitan Authority (Median) |
|---|---|---|---|
2.1.1.1 |
Guaranteed unit of funding £/pupil |
£3,551.69 |
£3,576.64 |
2.1.1.2 |
Percentage increase to DSG per pupil (2005/06 to 2006/07) |
6.5% |
6.6% |
2.1.1.3 |
Percentage per pupil increase (2005/06 to 2006/07) |
|
|
|
Nursery ISB |
18.2% |
7.2% |
|
Primary ISB |
7.2% |
6.4% |
|
Secondary ISB |
6.8% |
6.3% |
|
Special ISB |
7.6% |
5.8% |
2.1.1.4 |
Percentage of planned expenditure devolved to schools |
93.8% |
90.4% |
The above information demonstrates that Wigan Council receives below average funding but continues to devolve a high percentage of the Schools’ Budget to individual schools.
2.1.2 Percentage of schools receiving Minimum Funding Guarantee (MFG) for 2006/07
The per pupil MFG was 4.0% for primary and nursery schools and 3.4% for secondary and special schools.
2.2 The cash increase to the Individual Schools Budget (ISB) 2006-07 was approximately 5.5%. This is less than DfES 6.5% per pupil increase because of the effect of falling rolls (negative growth) and, decisions taken around central expenditure limits. The percentage cash increase to the ISB was greater than the MFG but due to a number of formula redistributions / changes and school reorganisations, a minority of schools received MFG.
|
MFG |
|
|---|---|---|
Nursery schools |
0.0% |
|
Primary schools |
23.1% |
(Effect of actual/average salary adjustments and corporate property formula banding changes) |
Secondary schools |
4.8% |
|
Special schools |
14.3% |
(School review and new school) |
2.3 Central Expenditure Limits
The Central Expenditure from the Schools’ Budget as a proportion of the allowed limit for 2006/07 was 112.8%.
This increase was approved by the Schools Forum and covered one off redundancy costs and technical adjustments in respect of the schools specific contingency match funding for the ex-Standards Fund Grant that supported vulnerable children, support for the Financial Management Standard in Schools and the creation of Wigan Online Learning.
2.4 LA Benchmarking Tables 2006/07 - net spend per pupil
2.4.1 Appendix 1 provides a full analysis of the detailed S52 budget information, comparing Wigan LA to the median expenditure levels of metropolitan district councils and our statistical neighbours.
2.4.2 The median figure is used in each line of the table in Appendix A. Therefore, care should be taken when looking at sub-totals and totals, as these are not arithmetic calculations of each relevant section, but another median.
2.4.3 There are many valid reasons why one local authority’s spending pattern is different to that of others. There may be a unique set of circumstances, created now or in the past, that has shaped the current services or levels of expenditure, such as early retirement policies or the delegation of certain functions or funding to schools, for example, statemented funding.
2.4.4 In summary, an analysis of the benchmarking data in Appendix 1 has identified the following:
- the funding received for pupils is relatively low
- the Council passports a high percentage of funding to schools (line 1.01 - 1.08)
- centrally retained SEN funding is low (schools and LA blocks, lines 1.2.1 - 1.2.8 and 2.2.1 - 2.2.6)
- expenditure on PRUs and Behaviour Support is low (lines 1.3.1 - 1.3.3)
- we have above the average number of children receiving early education in independent, private and voluntary settings (line 1.3.4)
- we have a legacy of high cost, recurrent pension contributions (lines 2.0.2 - 2.0.4)
- home to school transport costs within the LA block are above the median for both metropolitan authorities and our statistical neighbours. Wigan still has a relatively high percentage of statemented pupils and special schools. We also have a policy to pay transport costs for pupils attending Voluntary Aided schools that are over three miles from home, even though there are places available in nearer community schools. (lines 2.4.6 - 2.4.9)
- Wigan makes a higher that usual contribution to support visual and performing arts (line 2.4.12)
- expenditure on the Youth Service is well below the median (line 2.7.1)
2.5 Local Authority Action
2.5.1 The services provided to children with Emotional, Behavioural and Social Difficulties (EBSD) are currently under review. This redesign of services includes the Pupil Referral Units and the outcome may have an impact on the net expenditure per pupil.
2.5.2 The review of the policies governing early retirement for teachers has been completed and is well documented. There is rigorous management of this process within CYPS to limit the cost of ongoing mandatory pension contributions.
2.5.3 Home to school transport is an area for further review. Work is already underway to look at deriving efficiency savings from the joint tendering of education and social care transport needs. The new contract will commence on 1 st January 2007. The current Transport policies may also need to be reviewed in the light of extended school developments and inclusion.
3.0 Summary and Recommendations
3.1 The LA Benchmarking Tables are a useful tool to enable the Schools Forum and the Local Authority to compare its costs and, where appropriate, review policies and/or value for money outcomes.
3.2 Members are asked to note the content of the report and the ongoing work to implement policies and improve services.
Appendix
(57kb)