Agenda item

(To receive a report from Matthew Clayton, Admissions and Education Provision Manager, which invites the Committee to consider a proposal to expand capacity at Monks Abbey Primary School (Final Decision), which is due to be considered by the Executive Councillor for Adult Care, Health and Children's Services on 8 May 2018)

Consideration was given to a report which invited the Committee to consider a report on the proposal to expand capacity at Monks Abbey Primary School (Final Decision) which was due to be considered by the Executive Councillor for Adult Care, Health and Children's Services on 8 May 2018.

It was reported that Lincolnshire County Council had a statutory duty to ensure there were sufficient school places within its area to accommodate all pupils of statutory school age living in Lincolnshire.

Members were advised the report presented concerned the permanent expansion of the capacity at Monks Abbey Primary School.  This was to ensure that there would be the required number of primary school places to accommodate increasing pupil numbers in this area of Lincoln.  The proposal would expand the school to a 2.5 form entry (75 places per year group) from a 2 form entry (60 places per year group) with a proposed implementation date of 1 September 2019.  This would be a total increase of 125 places.

To ensure that the statutory requirements were met, a five week period of consultation commenced on 3 November 2017 and closed on 8 December 2017.  A decision was then taken to publish a Statutory Notice on 8 February 2018 which initiated a four week Representation Period up to 8 March 2018 when written objection and comments were able to be submitted.  Members were advised that the process was now entering the final stage when the Local Authority, as decision maker, must take the final decision regarding the proposal within 2 months from the end of the Representation Period (8 May 2018).

Members were provided with the opportunity to ask questions to the officers present in relation to the information contained within the report and some of the points raised during discussion included the following:

·         Members were advised that if the extra provision of places for this school was not approved, then the Local Authority may need to look further afield, to look at building new schools or expanding provision at other schools.

·         It was queried whether there were any areas in the county where the Local Authority would not be able to meet demand for places with expansion.  Members were advised that there were close links in relation to planned housing developments to identify where there may be s106 requirements for new schools.

·         It was commented that this was an area with a high proportion of migrant families, and it was queried whether the PAN could be reduced again if a large number of these families left the area following Brexit.  Members were advised that there was still a lot of uncertainty about what would happen in regards to Brexit, but there was still planning permission in place for 300 houses which would directly impact on Monks Abbey Primary School.

·         It was commented that 17 responses to the consultation was very low.  However, members were informed that individual meetings had been offered, responses could be returned via e-mail or letter.  Officers advised that this response rate indicated that the proposal was well received, as where a school proposal for expansion was needed and well received there tended to not be a big response.  However, larger response rates were often seen where a proposal was controversial.  It was also noted that one of the responses received was from the full governing body and made up of a community of stakeholders including parents and teachers.

·         It was confirmed that changes to the school building would go through the Planning and Regulation Committee if objections were received, otherwise, if there were no objections, the proposals would go to the Planning Officer.

·         It was clarified that the impact on community cohesion paragraph which was set out in the report was a requirement specific to the regulation around expansion of schools.  This had to be considered for every school expansion.

RESOLVED

1.    That the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee unanimously support the recommendation to the Executive Councillor for Adult Care, Health and Children's Services as set out in the report.

2.    That the following comments be passed to the Executive Councillor for Adult Care, Health and Children's Services in relation to this item:

·         Concerns were raised about the low response rate to the consultation.  Officers confirmed there had been an opportunity to respond online or in paper form, there was a number of consultation events held.  It was noted that where it was felt there was a need for additional capacity then there tended to be a lower response rate, whereas when it was controversial the response rate would be higher.  It was also highlighted that one of the responses was from the Governing Body which included a number of stakeholders in the community.

·         It was queried what would happen if the Council did not expand the school.  It was noted that this would result in having to look further afield for places and potentially a new school but this would take 3 or 4 years to achieve.  It was highlighted that there was a proposed new housing development nearby which would have a direct impact on the school.

·         It was questioned whether the PAN could be reduced again if there was a reduction in demand as a result of migrant families leaving the area after Brexit.  The Committee was informed that there was no way to prepare for this, but as there were 300 new homes planned near the school, there was a need to plan for extra capacity due to new housing developments.  If in the future there was a case to reduce the PAN, then it was confirmed that this would be possible.