Issue - meetings

(Report of the Director of Children’s Services to be introduced  by the Cabinet Member for Children): The Cabinet will be asked to approve proposals to expand Belmont Infant and Belmont Junior schools.  A previous report was withdrawn from the agenda at the Cabinet meeting held on the 10^th July. This was withdrawn to  allow for further consideration to be given, to issues raised by local stakeholders following the publication of that report before a decision was taken. Report to follow

Prior to considering this report the Leader  referred to the Local Government Act 1972 Section 100b  which advised that  Cabinet  can consider late reports under special urgency.  The report was late to allow necessary information to be included responding to the issues raised in respect of the earlier report to Cabinet on 10 July which was withdrawn. The Leader advised that a special Cabinet meeting was promptly organised on the following day, 11 July, to consider this report   and the date notified to both deputation parties.  The report was published on 13^th July, following the completion of responses to the representations made regarding the earlier report.

The proposals being considered were the expansion of Belmont Infant School and Belmont Junior school from two to three form entry, to take effect from September 2013 at Belmont Infant School and September 2016 at Belmont Junior school.

 The Cabinet Member for Children introduced the report and explained that the council had a statutory duty to provide local places for children at schools; the council had a duty to serve the community and ensure school places were available.   The Cabinet Member for Children had considered the options and believed that expansion of Belmont Infant and Junior school was the best option and planning permission would be sought in January 2013 for the expansion to allow an additional reception class to be available by September 2013.  Although parents of both schools had set out their objections to the expansion,   consideration was given to the positive impact of the expansion as well as the mitigating actions that could be taken to counter against any access issues of Vale Special School students to Belmont whilst the changes took place. With expansion there will follow more money, a larger SLT and an opportunity for greater specialisms and diversity in the management of and delivery of the curriculum and to address the very special and individual needs of The Vale pupils, as well as of all the pupils generally.  The indicative designs allowed for greater access between sites and should the expansion be agreed, the Vale pupils would be a key consideration when the final plans are drawn up.

An application from Harris to open a Free School in Tottenham has progressed to the next stage. Two reception classes are planned and a site has not yet been identified.  Even with the potential opening of this school there was still a need to provide places in West Green/Tottenham area.   Therefore these factors were considered together with the objections of parents and it was felt that there was a need to meet the needs of all families living in the area and build and expand the school.

Following Cabinet Member questions, the following clarifications were made: 

·        That the £3.5m would enable expansion,

·        There was a waiting list for the infant school but not the junior school the proposed expansion would not lead the school to lose money.

·        Following application on the admissions criteria there would be more places available  ...  view the full minutes text for item 225