Part 3Maintained schools

Chapter 2Financing of maintained schools

Determination of budgets

41 Determination of specified budgets of F1local authority

(1)

After section 45 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 there is inserted—

“45A Determination of specified budgets of F1local authority

(1)

For the purposes of this Part, a F1local authority’s “ F1local authority budget” for a financial year is the amount appropriated by the authority for meeting all expenditure by the authority in that year of a class or description prescribed for the purposes of this subsection.

(2)

For the purposes of this Part, a F1local authority’s “schools budget” for a financial year is the amount appropriated by the authority for meeting all expenditure by the authority in that year of a class or description prescribed for the purposes of this subsection (which may include expenditure incurred otherwise than in respect of schools).

(3)

For the purposes of this Part, a F1local authority’s “individual schools budget” for a financial year is the amount remaining after deducting from the authority’s schools budget for that year such planned expenditure by the authority in respect of that year as they may determine should be so deducted in accordance with regulations.

(4)

Regulations under subsection (3) may—

(a)

prescribe classes or descriptions of expenditure which are authorised or required to be deducted from an authority’s schools budget;

(b)

provide, in relation to any prescribed class or description of expenditure specified in the regulations, that such expenditure may only be deducted subject to either or both of the following, namely—

(i)

such limit or limits (however framed) as may be specified by or determined in accordance with the regulations, and

(ii)

such other conditions as may be so specified or determined.

(5)

Before the F2schools budget deadline in any financial year, a F1local authority shall—

(a)

determine the proposed amount of their schools budget for the following financial year, and

(b)

give notice of their determination to the Secretary of State and to the governing body of every school maintained by the authority.

F3(6)

For the purposes of this section and section 45B “the schools budget deadline” is—

(a)

the end of December in the case of an authority in England, and

(b)

the end of January in the case of an authority in Wales.”

F4(2)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(3)

Section 46 of that Act (determination of F1local authority’s local schools budget and individual schools budget) shall cease to have effect.

F542 Power of Secretary of State to set minimum schools budget

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43 Schools forums

After section 47 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 (c. 31) there is inserted—

“Schools forums

47A Schools forums

(1)

Every F1local authority shall in accordance with regulations establish for their area before such date as may be prescribed a body, to be known as a schools forum, representing the governing bodies and head teachers of schools maintained by the authority and, if the authority so determine, also representing such bodies as the authority may from time to time in accordance with regulations determine.

(2)

Subsection (1) does not apply in relation to the Common Council of the City of London or the Council of the Isles of Scilly.

(3)

The purpose of a schools forum is to advise the relevant authority on such matters relating to the authority’s schools budget as may be prescribed by regulations under section 45A(3) or by regulations under this subsection.

(4)

Regulations under section 45A(3) or under subsection (3) may include provision requiring a relevant authority to have regard to advice given by their schools forum, or requiring a relevant authority to consult their schools forum in relation to prescribed matters or before taking prescribed decisions.

(5)

Regulations may make provision as to the constitution, meetings and proceedings of a schools forum.

(6)

Regulations made by virtue of subsection (5) may include provision enabling the Secretary of State in prescribed circumstances to remove from membership of a schools forum any non-schools member.

(7)

Regulations may make provision with respect to expenses of a schools forum.

(8)

Except as provided by regulations, the expenses of a schools forum shall be defrayed by the relevant authority.

(9)

In this section—

“non-schools member”, in relation to a schools forum, means a member other than a schools member;

“relevant authority”, in relation to a schools forum, means the F1local authority by whom the forum is established;

“schools member”, in relation to a schools forum, means a member elected to represent governing bodies or head teachers of schools maintained by the relevant authority.”