Issue - meetings

Note: The deadline for amendments to reports published with the final Council agenda is midnight, Monday 21 November 2016.

To consider a report of Cabinet on outline proposals to address early years, primary, secondary and SEN rising rolls – update to phase 3 and phase 4 expansion programme (attached).

This report contains an EXEMPT appendix.

Report AGREED by 46 votes to 5.

A report of Cabinet set out various options to meet the increased demand for school places in Havering, as a result of rising birth rates. This covered demand for places at Early Years, Primary, Secondary and Special Educational Needs facilities.

The report was AGREED by 46 votes to 5 (see division 1) and it was RESOLVED:

That, in respect of the Capital Programme, the following items of funding be added to the budget:

       i.       £2.5m of unallocated S106 developer contributions for Education purposes

      ii.       £1.4m early years grant referred to in recommendation 7 of the Cabinet report (subject to bid being successful)

    iii.       £5m estimated 19/20 basic need grant (to be adjusted to final grant allocation once announced).  Note, tenders would not be awarded to commit expenditure against this grant prior to confirmation of the grant.  The inclusion within the capital programme at an earlier stage will however enable schemes to be developed.

In addition,

That the detailed schemes outlined in the exempt Appendix 3 to the report to Cabinet on 12 October 2016 be approved for inclusion in the Capital Programme (subject to any revisions following confirmation of any grant funding).

This item contains an EXEMPT appendix

Cabinet:

1.         Agreed that Phase 3 and 4 of the school expansion programme should continue to be developed  based on the following approach in line with consultation responses:

                          i.          To have a preference for expanding existing popular and high-performing schools and inclusion of nursery provision and Additional Resource Provisions (ARPs) where appropriate and practicable.

                         ii.          To consider the expansion of existing schools, but only to a maximum size of 4 Forms of Entry (FE) in the primary phase, ensuring at all times that high standards of education was paramount; to consider the possible establishment of primary phase provision on secondary school sites as “all through” provision and the encouragement of Free Schools where needed and where they provided best value. 

2.         Delegated the power to take further decisions regarding the approval of which settings/schools included within the report should be expanded or supported financially (subject to the appropriate statutory processes) for Phase 4 of the Expansion Programme to the Cabinet Member for Children & Learning.

3.         Delegated the power to take further decisions regarding expansion or financial support for Academies - not included within the report - in urgent and exceptional circumstances, (subject to the appropriate statutory processes and within the agreed capital programme) for Phase 4 of the Expansion Programme, to the Cabinet Member for Children & Learning after consultation with the Leader.

4.         Delegated to the Director of Asset Management authority to submit planning applications after consultation with planning officers, commission all associated surveys/investigations (including transport assessment, soils survey, environmental check etc.) and commence tender processes as required to support the development of options appraisals to deliver Phases 3 and 4 expansions required and noted that tender awards would remain the subject of separate Executive Decision(s).

5.         Noted the updated Commissioning Plan for Education Provision 2015/16 – 2019/20 and School Planning Data Pack appended to the report.

In respect of increasing Primary places:

6.         Agreed the following Phase 4 proposals for Permanent  expansion, to be subject to consultationand statutory processes, including planning:

Harold Hill Planning area: 

Expansion of Pyrgo Priory Primary School from 2FE to 3FE for 2017/18.

Expansion of Broadford Primary School from 3FE to 4FE for 2018/19.

Romford Planning area:

Expansion of Hylands Primary School from 2FE to 3FE for 2017/18.

Expansion of Gidea Park Primary School from 2FE to 3FE for 2019/20.

Rainham and South Hornchurch Planning area:

Expansion of Rainham Village Primary School from 2FE to 3FE for 2017/18.

Expansion of Whybridge Infant and Junior School from 2FE to 3FE for 2017/18.

Expansion of Brady Primary School from 1FE to 2FE for 2017/18.

Expansion of Parsonage Farm Primary School from 3FE to 4FE for 2018/19.

Expansion of Newtons Primary School from 2FE to 3FE in 2019/20.

7.         Agreed to support proposals for a new 3FE Primary Free School in the Rainham and South Hornchurch Planning area on the Beam Park development site.

In respect of increasing Secondary places:

8.         Agreed the Permanent expansion through the rationalisation of Published Admission Numbers of the following  ...  view the full decision text for item 75

Councillor Robert Benham, Cabinet member for Children & Learning, introduced the report

Cabinet was informed that Havering had seen an increase of over 45% in the number of births between 2002 and 2015.  The Office for National Statistics (ONS) live birth data for 2013 showed that most London boroughs had experienced  ...  view the full minutes text for item 75