Agenda and minutes

Resolved – That Councillor David Renard Chair this meeting of the Panel.

Councillor Renard took the Chair.

Introduction

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 items 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.

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 21^st May 2013.

Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting held on 21^st May 2013, be confirmed as a correct record.

            No questions were asked in accordance with Standing Order 28.

          The Head of Education and the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services submitted a joint report concerning the increase in age provision for pupils with Special Educational Needs (SEN) at the Crowdys Hill School from 11-16 year olds to 11-19 year olds. 

Councillor Fionuala Foley, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, 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, in particular the need to create additional provision and support that was reserved for pupils with Special Educational Needs (SEN) and Complex Learning Difficulties for children from 11 to 19 years.   She advised that the School confirmed its support for the proposed expansion and that this support was shared across the school community with only a small number of objections being received to the public notice. 

Clarity was sought from Mr Andrew Ferguson, Head of Litigation, Law and Democratic Services and Peter Nathan, Head of Education, regarding revenue funding and related contingency plans to ensure financial support would be available for the project to ensure its success.  The Panel noted the response and believed that there was a clear case for the need to increase provision at Crowdys Hill School.

The Chair noted the comments expressed at the meeting and concluded that he believed there was a clear case for the proposed increase of provision at the school. He noted the general support for additional provision from the school community as made clear by the pre-statutory and statutory consultation findings and the lack of a strong negative response to the proposal.

          Resolved – (1) That the Cabinet Panel on School Organisation approve the proposals as set out in the statutory notice attached as Appendix 2 of the report, to increase the age provision that had been recognised by the Local Authority as reserved for pupils with Special Educational Needs (SEN) at Crowdys Hills School, Swindon, from 11 – 16 year olds to 11 – 19 year olds

          (2) Further to (1) above, that subject to planning approval by 1^st August 2015, an implementation date of 1^st September 2016 be agreed.

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

·       had carefully considered the joint report and the representations made at the meeting by Council Officers.

·       was satisfied that

o   it had the necessary information in order to make the decision referred to 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 decision makers, as set out in the statutory guidance from the Department for Children, Schools and Families entitled ‘Making Changes to a Maintained Mainstream School.

          The reasons for the Cabinet Panel’s decision to approve the proposals as set out in the statutory notice to increase the age range at Crowdys Hill Special School from  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.