The School Finance (England) Regulations 2011

Determination of the individual schools budget for the funding period and limit on increase in central expenditure

7.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) to (4), not later than 31st March 2011, a local authority must deduct from their schools budget such of the classes or descriptions of planned expenditure set out in Schedule 2 (“the central expenditure”) as they propose to deduct, in order to determine their individual schools budget.

(2) In deducting the central expenditure under paragraph (1), a local authority must ensure that—

(a) where the authority’s schools budget increases from the previous funding period to the funding period, the percentage of any increase in the central expenditure does not exceed the percentage of the increase in the schools budget,

(b) where the authority’s schools budget decreases from the previous funding period to the funding period, the central expenditure decreases and that the percentage of the decrease is not less than the percentage of the decrease in the schools budget,

unless they obtain authorisation to exceed these limits from their schools forum under regulation 13(1)(a) or the Secretary of State under regulation 13(3).

(3) In deducting the central expenditure referred to in paragraph 37 of Schedule 2, a local authority must not exceed the limit referred to in that paragraph, unless they obtain authorisation to do so from their schools forum under regulation 13(1)(c) or the Secretary of State under regulation 13(3).

(4) Where a local authority carries forward a deficit in the central expenditure from the previous funding period to the funding period, which reduces the amount of the schools budget available, the funding of this deficit from the schools budget must be authorised by their schools forum under regulation 13(1)(d) or the Secretary of State under regulation 13(3).

(5) References to planned expenditure in this regulation are references to that expenditure net of—

(a) all related specific grants;

(b) all related fees, charges and income; and

(c) any funding received from the Secretary of State in respect of PFI scheme unitary payments.

(6) For the purposes of this regulation, a local authority must adjust the schools budget for the previous funding period to include any mainstreamed grant.