Issue - meetings

Outcome of the Consultation Period for the Expansion of Bligh Infant and Junior Schools

Meeting: 09/02/2016 - Cabinet (Item 11)

11 Outcomes of Consultation for the Proposed Prescribed Alterations at Bligh Infant and Junior Schools PDF 2 MB

Minutes:

Background:

This report provided details of the outcome of the informal consultation period on the Council’s proposals to enlarge the premises at Bligh Infant and Junior Schools, by way of statutory prescribed alterations. This followed the Cabinet’s decision in January 2015 to approve proposals to consult.

The first stage in the statutory process required the Council to hold a period of informal public consultation, this took place over a four-week period between 2 and 29 November 2015, and the results of this were set out in sections 4 and 5 of the report. The report also provided details of a public meeting to discuss the proposals, which were set out in paragraph 7 and Appendix 4 to the report.

The Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee discussed this report on 19 January 2016 and its comments were set out in paragraph 8 of the report.

A Diversity Impact Assessment (DIA) screening form, as set out at Appendix 2 to the report, highlighted how the proposed changes could impact upon various groups. It showed that there could potentially be some impact upon certain groups, however, any impacts were expected to be positive.

Decision number:	Decision:
23/2016	The Cabinet noted the responses to the informal consultation together with the advice and analysis from officers and the comments of the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee and agreed to instruct the Director of Children and Adults Services to commence the period of statutory representation for the proposed changes to Bligh Infant and Junior Schools, as set out in paragraph 11.1 of the report, when statutory notices and full proposals will be published.
24/2016	The Cabinet agreed to delegate authority to the Director of Children and Adults Services, in consultation with Portfolio Holder for Children's Services, to determine whether to approve the proposals at the end of the statutory consultation period if no objections are received. However, if any objections are received during that time then a report will be prepared and presented to Cabinet for determination.

Reasons:

Approval to proceed to a period of statutory representation will ensure the Council complies with its duty to follow the full consultation process when proposing changes to school organisation.