Community Facility Powers 
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| Community Facility Powers |
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Where a school chooses to provide a community facility for use by the public as part of the extended service provision then it must apply for community facility powers in order to protect the schools delegated budget should the provision run into difficulty. (Read More…) A community facility is a facility operated by the school for the benefit of the local community and might include childcare/ holiday activity provision, community sports clubs or a safe place to be, as part of the core offer. Expenditure incurred (with the exception of Study Support) in the delivery of extended services cannot be met from the delegated school budget, with the exception of Maintained Nursery Schools. This includes any accumulated balances of the school’s budget share. The schools’ legal obligations under legislation are to consult with and have regard to any advice given by the authority (Walsall Children’s Services – Serco) before operating a community facility. If governors wish to establish an extended service using their Community Facilities Powers they will need to provide evidence of consultation, a proposal document, a business plan and a financial forecast in order to obtain agreement from Walsall Children’s Services - Serco on behalf of Walsall Council. Templates for these can be found by clicking on the links below. Additionally, the Local Authority has the power to suspend a school’s delegated budget in certain circumstances where the governing body is not managing in a satisfactory manner any expenditure or sums received in the exercise of the section 27 powers. Governors should refer to Walsall Scheme for Financing Schools sc14. www.educationwalsall.com/school-finance/school-finance.html then click on Financing for Schools option Governors should submit their proposal and evidence of consultation using the forms available from: Senior Extended Services Consultant Early Years Learning and Family Support Team Pupil Support Centre Field Road Bloxwich Walsall, WS3 3JF Governors at community and voluntary controlled schools will not be personally liable for any debts or problems arising if the service provided fails or runs into difficulty provided the Authority has been consulted, has approved the details of the service provision and the Governing Body follows Walsall Children’s Services - Serco guidance and procedures. The Senior Extended Services Development Consultant will ensure that schools’ proposals are assessed and approved. The ESDC will co-ordinate all the necessary assessments and prepare them for consideration by the Extended Services Task Group.
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