Issue - meetings

A report from the Chief Education Officer and Director of Finance, Resources and Customer Services is attached. This outlines the strategy and approach to delivering pupil places. (Key decision – reference number 4395)

(Report No.132)

(8.30 – 8.35 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 Chief Education Officer (No.132) updating the strategy for the provision of pupil places.

NOTED

1.               The following amendments to recommendations in the report as reflected in the decisions below:

·       Recommendation 2.2.5, bullet point two, the addition of “in accordance with the limits set out in the Council’s Contract Procurement Rules”;

·       Recommendation 2.3.1, the addition of “and a further report brought back to Cabinet”

2.               That Members’ attention was drawn to the information provided within the Executive Summary of the report. Councillor Orhan outlined the difficulties faced due to Central Government policy changes and the restriction on funding provision and legislation restrictions. The Council was legally prohibited from opening any new schools or purchasing sites for new schools. Any new school provision would be through the Government’s Free Schools and Academies programme.

3.               The detailed strategy and approach to the delivery of pupil places as set out in full in the report. Members supported the proposals set out in the recommendations of the report and detailed in the decisions below.

Alternative Options Considered: Enfield Council had a statutory responsibility to provide the necessary school places. The School Expansion Programme created a mechanism to assist with the delivery of extra capacity required. Failure to provide enough school places was not an option. The proposals which had been considered but rejected were set out in section 4 of the report.

DECISION: The Cabinet agreed to

1.               Approve three additional permanent forms of primary entry (FE) in the South West from September 2017 to September 2020.

·       and the continuation of the school expansion programme, with the focus on special provision and high needs pupil places.

2.               Increase capacity in special schools and establishments that provide education services for some of the most acute special need categories subject to further approval for the manner in which this was to be achieved.

3.               Note that the School Expansion Programme capital budgets for 2016/17 to 2017/18 were maintained at current approved levels but updated by a separate report(s) brought forward on any necessary land acquisitions required to facilitate provision of extra places and the need to increase budgets or use Council resources.

4.               Approve refinancing of the Garfield Primary project to reflect the change in legislation in respect of the sale of education land from previously approved School Expansion Programme (SEP) growth.

5.               Approve the retention of the Garfield building, designated as the Key Stage 2 building, for education purposes, initially for the decant of West Lea pupils to allow building works to proceed. The long term future use of the Garfield KS2 building was to be the subject of a further report.

6.               Support continued delegated authority to the Cabinet Member for Education, Children’s Services and Protection and the Cabinet Member for Finance and Efficiency in consultation with the Director of Finance, Resources and Customer Services, the Chief Education Officer or the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9