LB Sutton Community School Delegated Budgets

Dear Mr Martin,

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000 - INFORMATION REQUEST - REF NO - 1523

I acknowledge your request for information received on Monday 27th April
2009.

Your request is being considered and you will receive the information
requested within the statutory timescale of 20 working days as defined
by the Freedom of Information Act 2000, subject to the information not
being exempt or containing a reference to a third party.

If appropriate, the information may be provided in paper copy, normal
font size. If you require alternative formats, e.g. language, audio,
large print, etc. then please let me know.

For your information, the Act defines a number of exemptions which may
prevent release of the information you have requested. There will be an
assessment and if any of the exemption categories apply then the
information will not be released. You will be informed if this is the
case, including your rights of appeal.

If the information you request contains reference to a third party then
they may be consulted prior to a decision being taken on whether or not
to release the information to you. You will be informed if this is the
case.

There may a fee payable for this information. This will be considered
and you will be informed if a fee is payable. In this event the fee must
be paid before the information is processed and released. The 20 working
day time limit for responses is suspended until receipt of the payment.

Yours sincerely

Natalie

Natalie Morgan
Corporate Customer Care Officer
Policy and Communications Team
Chief Executive's Group
London Borough of Sutton
Civic Offices
St Nicholas Way, Sutton SM1 1EA

Tel: 020 8770 6380
FAX: 020 8770 5404
www.sutton.gov.uk

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Good Morning Mr Martin,

Yes that is correct. I can confirm you will be receiving a response
within 20 working days from 27th April 2009.

Regards

Natalie

Natalie Morgan
Corporate Customer Care Officer
Policy and Communications Team
Chief Executive's Group
London Borough of Sutton
Civic Offices
St Nicholas Way, Sutton SM1 1EA

Tel: 020 8770 6380
FAX: 020 8770 5404
www.sutton.gov.uk

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Dear Mr Martin

Please find the below response to your FOI request ref: 1523 from London
Borough of Sutton:

(i) Community Schools are responsible for their own
budgets but they are required to send London Borough of Sutton a detailed
budget plan and periodic returns, which are reviewed. Actual spending
decisions are made by the governing body of the school in line with
Council rules on purchasing.

(ii) All schools are covered by the requirements of the
Scheme for Financing Schools. The two aspects of the Scheme that could be
applied if necessary are:

. Notice of Concern - Where the Local Authority had concerns that
a school had failed to comply with any provisions of the scheme, the
Authority could issue a Notice of Concern to the school. The effect of a
Notice of Concern could be the requirement that appropriate training is
undertaken, that an appropriately trained/qualified person chairs the
finance committee of the governing body, that more stringent restrictions
or conditions may be placed on the financial management of the school,
that regular financial monitoring meetings take place, that the governing
body buys into the local authorities financial management system or the
imposition of restrictions or that limitations are placed on the schools
extended services activities.

. Withdrawal of Delegation - A governing body's right to a
delegated budget will be suspended where in the opinion of the authority
the governing body:

o Has substantially or persistently failed to comply with any
requirement applicable under the scheme, Standing Orders and Revised
Subsidiary Regulations for Schools, and/or

o Is not managing the school's budget share in a satisfactory
manner

o Has received an adverse OFSTED inspection report.

The LA may withdraw a school's local bank account facility should this be
abused.

(iii) See response to (i) above. In addition, all schools
are required to have a whistle blowing policy where such instances can be
reported in confidence.

Kind Regards

Natalie

Natalie Morgan

Corporate Customer Care Officer

Policy and Communications Team

Chief Executive's Group

London Borough of Sutton

Civic Offices

St Nicholas Way, Sutton SM1 1EA

Tel: 020 8770 6380

FAX: 020 8770 5404

[1]www.sutton.gov.uk

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