Agenda item

Hester Collicut introduced the report (Agenda Item 9), which intended to draw attention to the progress and the risks associated with the Delivering Better Value programme (DBV). The appendices provided the detail on the progress over the period April – October 2024. 

Hester Collicut commented on the concerning figures detailed in the previous HNB report and reported that Delivering Better Value (DBV) was in place to manage part of these figures but was not a total solution. It was anticipated that the impact from DBV would be seen from September 2025 onwards. It would not solve all issues facing the HNB. Hester Collicut referred to page 99 of the previous HNB report which identified DBV mitigations and the percentage against the unmitigated deficit. The figures were as follows:

·       16.8 percent in 2025/26

·       16.47 percent in 2026/27

·       15.67 percent in 2027/28

This showed that the DBV would not solve the full ask against the HNB and this was the reflection across the national picture. Hester Collicut reported that 54 LAs were involved in the DBV and even with efforts associated with the DBV programme, LAs remained in deficit. The Department for Education (DfE) was fully aware of this. Five of the LAs had moved into the Safety Valve Programme, which was currently being reviewed by the DfE. The 54 LAs had been part of a trial and this work would now be rolled out nationally. Strategies had been formed as part of the trial that had impacted on HNB pressures and work undertaken in West Berkshire had been reflected nationally.

Hester Collicut reported that the Heads’ Funding Group had requested to see the impact of the DBV programme in West Berkshire so far and this was set out in Appendix One to the report. Increased impact would be seen over the next six months, which would be reported to the Schools’ Forum and the DfE though a quarterly report. The grant would be extended for some projects due to delayed start dates.

RESOLVED that the Schools’ Forum noted the report.