Issue - meetings

Background:

The report requested consideration of whether or not to proceed with the implementation of the decision to close Luton Infant and Junior Schools, and in their place to open a new all through primary school in new buildings in September 2014.

It was noted that the proposals to close both Luton Schools and to open a new all through primary school in their place were approved by the Office of the Schools Adjudicator in June 2010. The rebuilding project was considered integral to the amalgamation process by the adjudicator and a condition set that planning permission for the new school buildings was to be in place by 31 December 2011. The adjudicator’s decision was attached to the report.

The report outlined the implications of the Government’s spending review and also the impact of a reduced level of devolved capital funding to schools. Members were therefore advised that the condition set by the Office of the Schools Adjudicator, when making the original decision, could not now be met and formal revocation of the original decision was necessary to remove the council’s duty to implement the proposals.

It was noted that if Cabinet decided that it wished to request revocation, it would be necessary to publish and advertise revocation proposals and then submit the proposals together with any representations to the Office of the Schools Adjudicator for decision.

Reasons:

The decision to approve the request to the Office of the Schools Adjudicator to revoke the decision made by the Office of the Schools Adjudicator would relieve Medway Council of its duty to implement the conditions of the determination and the financial burdens that would be placed upon the council. The above decision authorises the publication of statutory notices in relation to the revocation proposals.