Agenda and minutes

Resolved – That Councillor Garry Perkins Chair this meeting of the Panel.

Councillor Perkins took the Chair. 

Introduction

The Chair welcomed the Headteacher of Drove Primary School to the meeting.

The Chair advised those in attendance of the procedures to be followed in the event of an emergency requiring the Civic Offices to be evacuated. 

The Chair explained that this was not a meeting of the Cabinet and referred to the distinct role played by the Cabinet Panel. He made it clear that the Cabinet Panel had no pre-determined view on the item under consideration and would make its decisions on the evidence before it and on the questions and comments arising at the meeting.

The Chair referred to the process to be adopted at the meeting with Agenda Item 5 (Public Question Time) providing an opportunity for questions to be asked.  There would be no further opportunity for the public to participate in the meeting after this item other than as observers.

In respect of Agenda Item 6 (The Permanent Expansion of Drove Primary School), following the discussion of the report, the Panel would withdraw from the meeting to deliberate and formulate its decision. They might ask the Council’s legal advisor to accompany them. The Panel would then return to the meeting to make its decision and to give its statement of reasons.

Members are reminded that at the start of the meeting they should declare any known interests in any matter to be considered, and also during the meeting if it becomes apparent that they have an interest in the matters being discussed.

            The Chair reminded Members of the need to declare any known interests in any matters to be considered at the meeting.

To receive the minutes of the meeting held on 3^rd February 2010.

Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting held on 3^rd February 2010, be confirmed as a correct record.

See explanatory note below.  Please phone the Committee Officer whose name and number appears at the top of this agenda if you need further guidance.

No questions were asked in accordance with Standing Order 28.

The Group Director, Children submitted a report concerning the proposal to permanently expand Drove Primary School, Drove Road, Swindon, and setting out the outcome of the consultation undertaken following the publication of the statutory notice on the proposal.

The Chair outlined the background to the proposal, referred to the outcomes of consultation process undertaken by the Council, and highlighted the key aspects of the report. He commented on the pressure on school places in the Swindon Town Centre and Old Town area and referred to the measurable successes and popularity of Drove Primary School.

Councillor David Renard, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, commented that there was a clear case for the expansion of this successful and popular school. He referred to the likely ongoing pressures on school places in this area of Swindon and to how the expansion of this school would assist the Council in responding to these pressures.

Councillor Brian Mattock, Cabinet Member for Housing, Community and Partnerships, and an Old Town and Lawn Ward Councillor, referred to the clear support for the expansion of the school from parents and the school community, as was made clear from the consultation findings. 

Councillor Dale Heenan, Cabinet Member for Policy and Performance, referred to the contents of the report presented to the Panel which clearly indicated the need for the expansion of the school, that the proposals were cost effective, and that they had a great deal of support from the school and from within the local community.

Dr. Nick Capstick, Headteacher, Drove Primary School, advised that the school welcomed the opportunity to expand. It was committed to maintaining the ethos, approach, levels of attainment and results in the larger expanded school that it currently achieved and that had resulted in its popularity with pupils and parents and within the local community. 

The Chair of the Cabinet Panel announced that the Cabinet Panel would withdraw to consider its decision without Children’s Services Officers. The Cabinet Panel then withdrew. The Cabinet Panel later returned and the recommendation was put to the vote.

Resolved – That, subject to the granting of planning permission by 31^st July 2011, the Cabinet Panel on School Organisation approves the proposals for the permanent expansion of Drove Primary School, Drove Road, Swindon, to three forms of entry, as set out in the Statutory Notice attached as Appendix 4 to the report of the Group Director, Children.

            In reaching its decision, the Cabinet Panel confirmed that it  -

·        had carefully considered the report by the Group Director, Children and the representations made at the meeting by Council Officers and the school.

·        was satisfied that

o       it had the necessary information in order to make the decision referred to in (1) above,

o       the Statutory Notice complied with the statutory requirements,

o       the statutory consultation was carried out properly prior to the publication of the Notice, and

o       the Notice did not relate to any other published proposal.

·        had carefully considered the factors to be considered by the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.