Agenda item - Key Decision - School Expansion Programme

Report of the Corporate Director of Children and Families.

RESOLVED: That

(1) the outcomes of the statutory consultations on proposals for primary school expansions be noted;

(2) the publication of statutory notices to expand permanently the following schools be agreed:

· Aylward Primary School

· Pinner Wood School

· Grange Primary School

· Norbury School

· Belmont School

· Priestmead School and Nursery

· Newton Farm Nursery, Infant and Junior School

· Kenmore Park Infant and Nursery School

· Kenmore Park Junior School

· Whitchurch First School and Nursery

· Whitchurch Junior School;

(3) in relation to Cannon Lane Primary School the following be agreed:

· to extend the consultation period for the Governing Body of Cannon Lane Primary School to respond to the consultation by 4.00 pm on Friday 29 November 2013;

· to delegate to the Corporate Director of Children and Families, in consultation with Portfolio Holder for Children and Schools, the decision whether to publish statutory proposals to expand permanently Cannon Lane Primary School;

(4) in relation to St Anselm’s Catholic Primary School and St John Fisher Catholic Primary School, it be agreed to delegate to the Corporate Director of Children and Families the decision whether to make representations on any published statutory proposals and for the Corporate Director to liaise with the schools and the Diocese of Westminster through the statutory process;

(5) the Demographic Information School Roll Projections 2014-2022 Report be noted;

(6) the Secondary School Place Planning Strategy be approved.

Reason for Decision: To enable the Local Authority to fulfil its statutory duties to provide sufficient school places in its area.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected: As set out in the report.

Conflict of Interest relating to the matter declared by Cabinet Member / Dispensation Granted: None.

The Portfolio Holder for Children and Schools introduced the report which set out the outcome of the statutory consultations on Phase 2 of the Primary School Expansion Programme agreed by Cabinet in July 2013 and proposed the next stages.

The Portfolio Holder outlined the statutory responsibility on local authorities to provide sufficient school places for its area and the work carried out previously, including putting a Strategy in place. She added that this was Phase 2 of the proposals which had received broad support and thanked those who had responded to the consultation, included the concerns expressed which were being discussed with schools. The report also included demographic information, school roll projections and the Secondary School Place Planning Strategy. She commended the report to Cabinet.

The non-voting non-Executive Members welcomed the report which had received cross-party support, including recognition by successive governments of the issue. A Member asked about the risks which, in his opinion, had been addressed inadequately. He added that the report was reliant on the project being delivered by June 2014 and asked about the financial risks if the deadline was not met.

In response, the Portfolio Holder explained that contingency plans had been built into the process and a reference group had been set up to log all progress made and to ensure meticulous planning. She responded to further questions and assured Members that the consultation problems in relation to Vaughan School had been a helpful learning exercise for the Council and checks and balances would be kept for the future. In relation to the responses that did not support the proposal, verbal responses had been received from Cannon Lane School of support. Additionally, St Anselm and St John Fisher Voluntary Aided Schools had re-checked their consultation and were prepared to move to the next stage of the process.

With regard to the Council’s IT systems, the Portfolio Holder for Communications, Performance and Resources informed Cabinet that discussions were underway with the Planning Department to ensure that the planning system was robust and whilst issues had arisen it was hoped that the Council would be able to minimise these. The Portfolio Holder for Planning, Development and Regeneration added that compared to previous times, the Planning Department was involved in discussions from the outset so that any potential issues could be identified at an early stage. Moreover, local residents were being consulted early at the design stage. These standards should apply not only to developers but also the Council who was both an education authority and a developer.