Issue - meetings

Proposal for the use of Land for a Special Educational Needs (SEN) School, Respite and Related Accommodation

 

 

Meeting: 04/09/2018 - Cabinet (Item 5)

5 Proposed Use of Part of the Cornwallis Avenue Site for School Provision pdf icon PDF 1 MB

Minutes:

Background:

 

This report provided details of a proposal to lease land at Cornwallis Avenue, Gillingham, to Medway Commercial Group (MCG) for the purpose of developing education facilities to meet pressure on school places. The report provided details of the previous and current uses of the site noting that whilst the current Local Plan designation for the land was CF8 (Cemetery Extension), the proposal in the Local Plan which was out to consultation but not due for adoption until 2020, was that part of the site be allocated for cemetery use and part educational use.

 

The report provided details of likely demand for both burial spaces and educational provision, noting that use of the Cornwallis Avenue site would facilitate meeting these pressures and the Council’s statutory duties in respect of school sufficiency. The report also stated that a Diversity Impact Assessment would be provided with future reports on specific proposals for the educational use of the land.

 

Decision number:

Decision:

112/2018

The Cabinet approved the leasing of the proposed 1.5ha education land at Cornwallis Avenue (as shown hatched black on the plan set out in Appendix 1 to the report) to Medway Commercial Group in a format approved by the Chief Legal Officer for a period of no more than 125 years in order to secure the delivery of educational and associated uses subject to appropriate planning approvals.

113/2018

The Cabinet agreed to delegate authority to the Chief Legal Officer in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Resources to complete the lease and any other necessary agreements of part of the site at Cornwallis Avenue as shown hatched black on the plan set out in Appendix 1 to the report for the provision of educational and associated uses.

 

Reasons:

 

To ensure that sufficient land is available for additional education provision to meet expected demand from across all sectors of the place planning system, which will help to ensure that the Council meets its statutory duty to provide sufficient school places.