Issue - meetings

A report from the Director of Finance, Resources and Customer Services and the Chief Education Officer is attached. This provides a strategy and solution to the rising need in school places for the Autistic Spectrum Disorder cohort of pupils within the Borough. (Report No.156, agenda part two also refers)  (Key decision – reference number 4209)

(Report No.154)

(8.40 – 8.45 pm)

Councillor Ayfer Orhan (Cabinet Member for Education, Children’s Services and Protection) introduced the report of the Director of Finance, Resources and Customer Services and the Chief Education Officer (No.154) providing a strategy and solution to the rising need in school places for the Autistic Spectrum Disorder cohort of pupils in the Borough.

NOTED

1.               That Report No.156 also referred as detailed in Minute No.12 below.

2.               That the report sought agreement to the strategy which would allow additional school places for children and young people and provide an opportunity to stay within the Borough, as detailed in the report. Authority was sought for the freehold acquisition of the former Minchenden School site to fulfil the requirements of the rising ASD places that were needed in the Borough.

3.               That a further report to Cabinet and Council was anticipated for July 2016, outlining the detailed business case to support the delivery proposals.

4.               The detail provided within figures 4 and 5 of the report setting out the cumulative cost avoidance over the course of a six year period of providing the required places within the borough rather than out-borough. The annual cost difference in year 6 was projected to be £3,988,241 and the accumulated difference £13,511,511.

Alternative Options Considered: NOTED the alternative options which had been considered as set out in section 5 of the report.

DECISION: The Cabinet agreed the following decisions and recommendations to full Council:

1.               Noted the rise and demand for places at the higher end of the Autistic Disorder Spectrum and associated costs.

2.               Agreed to approve the Council’s acquisition of the freehold interest in the land and buildings that form all of Minchenden School (as shown in appendix 1 of the report) which were owned by the Barnet and Southgate College on the terms detailed within the part 2 report (Report No.156, Minute No.12 below referred) and further approved, subject to the approval of Council, the total acquisition budget also detailed within the part 2 report and:

(i)              To recommend that Council approve the addition of funds to the Capital Programme as detailed in the part 2 report for the acquisition of land and;

(ii)             To recommend that Council approve the addition of funds to the Capital Programme as detailed within the part 2 report for the additional feasibility work to the Farbey Building, the Mews Building and part of Leigh Hunt Drive Car Park for the Minchenden ASD Provision.

(iii)            Agreed to delegate authority to the Cabinet Members for Finance and Efficiency and, Education, Children’s Services and Protection, in conjunction with the Director of Finance, Resources and Customer Services and the Chief Education Officer to approve the final terms and structure of the transaction in accordance with the Council’s Property Procedure Rules.

3.               Agreed to approve in principal (subject to feasibility and a further report to Cabinet) the Council’s redevelopment options of Southgate Circus Library and approves the option on Southgate House as detailed within the part 2 report, and:

(i)              To recommend that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10