Agenda item

A report from the Director of Finance, Resources and Customer Services and Chief Education Officer is attached. This sets out the Council’s approach to the provision of school places for Enfield residents and updates the strategy for the provision of places. (Key decision – reference number 4141)

(Report No.85)

(8.55 – 9.00 pm)

Councillor Ayfer Orhan (Cabinet Member for Education, Children’s Services and Protection) introduced the report of Director of Finance, Resources and Customer Services and the Interim Chief Education Officer (No.85) setting out the approach to the provision of school places for Enfield residents and updating the strategy for the provision of places.

NOTED

1.               Councillor Orhan commended the strategy and approach to delivering pupil places. The strategy was regularly reviewed to meet the latest projections and assessment of demand for pupil places in the Borough. The statutory responsibilities of the council were highlighted as detailed in the report. Members’ attention was drawn to section 2.8 of the Strategy which summarised the need for primary pupil places.

2.               Jenny Tosh, Interim Chief Education Officer, praised the effective and ongoing joined up working being undertaken and also acknowledged the collaborative working with the Borough’s schools. The Strategy now also focused on the demand for both secondary and special pupil places. The Borough was running out of existing school sites for expansion and therefore future demand may need to be met through the acquisition of new sites.

3.               In response to a question raised by Councillor Taylor regarding the provision of excess supply of pupil places to increase the level of parental choice, Jenny Tosh outlined the detrimental financial effects on schools if the level of supply exceeded the level of demand. Members noted the effects of free schools and academies on the Council’s ability to plan and provide school places in the areas of most demand.

4.               It was noted that the level of Government funding provided was dependant on how demand was identified, for example, if basic need. Government funding was provided for current need rather than projected need.

5.               Councillor Orhan highlighted the duty placed on local authorities to plan for pupil places and the de-stablising effect that the introduction of free schools and academies could have on effective future projections.

Alternative Options Considered: The Council has a statutory responsibility to provide the necessary school places. The School Expansion Programme creates a mechanism to assist with the delivery of extra capacity required. Failure to provide enough school places was not an option. Section 4 of the report referred.

DECISION: The Cabinet agreed to approve

1.               The updated strategy to provide the additional school places required up to 2019 and the continuation of the school expansion programme.

2.               That the overall programme budget allocation was maintained at £62.83 million but updated when a separate report was brought forward on any land acquisitions required to facilitate provision of extra places in the North Central area (in the vicinity of the proposed residential development at Chase Farm) and potentially Minchenden for special needs places.

3.               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 Assistant Director of Strategic Property Services, to take decisions on:

·       The individual schools, sites and preferred partners for expansions, and decisions on statutory requirements, to meet the need for extra pupil places, both mainstream and special, up to 2019.

·       Conducting suitable procurement exercises and either calling off EU-compliant framework agreements or conducting suitable procurement exercises, entering into contractual arrangements with successful contractors and placing orders for any capital works required for the projects.

·       Conducting any necessary land transactions, including acquisitions by way of freehold or leasehold, as individual schemes were developed.

4.               Delegated authority to the Director of Finance, Resources and Customer Services and the Chief Education Officer to take decisions on the:

·       Programme management arrangements and operational resourcing, including procurement of any required support services.

·       Commencing feasibility or initial design to inform pre-application discussions with planning and procurement of resources for this activity.

·       Cost estimates, budgets and spend for projects in advance of updates to the Capital Programme.

·       Submission of planning applications.

·       The appropriate procurement routes for professional support services and construction for individual schemes.

Cabinet agreed to note:

5.               That if options for schemes could not be progressed then alternative options would need to be brought forward for decision and inclusion on the Council’s Capital Programme.

6.               The solution and funding requirements to meet the need for additional Special School capacity to support children with high support needs, such as Autistic Spectrum Disorder, would be the subject of future reports.

Reason: The Council had an overriding statutory duty to provide sufficient pupil places to meet anticipated demand. This set out the proposed strategy and delivery arrangements to oversee delivery arrangements for schools with funding secured for expansion, to further develop options for expansion by conducting feasibility studies and consultation with the schools identified and to secure funding through opportunities that become available. This strategy and delivery arrangements would deliver the additional reception places required in the areas of highest demand up to 2019. The expanded capacity aimed to provide a higher level of flexibility built in to counter sudden increases in demand.

(Key decision – reference number 4141)