Decision details

The outcome of statutory consultation on a proposal to expand Wheelock primary in response to increasing demand for primary school places in the Sandbach area was reported to the Cabinet Member at the meeting of 3^rd December where it was resolved that the decision on the publication of statutory notices be deferred until 17^th December to allow more time for consideration of the large number of responses that were received at the end of the consultation period and to allow more time to consider the rationale for the proposal and the objections received from nearby schools.

On 17^th December the outcomes of consultation were presented in a further report whereupon a decision was taken to defer a decision on the publication of statutory notices to allow a further two weeks to consider possible alternative solutions.

A meeting was held with head teachers and governors of the Sandbach and Haslington schools on 14^th January, followed by a ‘drop in’ session for interested parties on 15^th January. The decision paper presented at this meeting reported on the outcome of this further consultation and sought permission to publish a statutory notice detailing the proposed expansion of Wheelock Primary School from 210 to 315 pupil places with a revised implementation date of September 2014. This request had taken into account feedback received during the extended consultation period.

The decision would enable the Local Authority to comply with its statutory duty to publish notices on a school expansion. The advice of the Council’s Legal and Finance Officers had been taken into account in producing the report.

Councillor S Corcoran, as local ward member, was afforded the opportunity to speak on this matter. He referred to the development strategy for Sandbach which provided for 700 houses at Sandbach Heath and a primary school. In response, Councillor Rachel Bailey stressed that the development strategy was a draft strategy which was aspirational in nature and that there were currently no plans to build a new school at Sandbach. Indeed, she was very keen to see the existing schools in Sandbach supported.

Councillor Bailey reported receipt of a written response to the final report by Danielle Doubleday, the contents of which had been considered.

RESOLVED

That the Cabinet Member for Children and Family Services authorises the publication of statutory notices detailing the Local Authority’s proposed expansion of:

Wheelock Primary School from the 210 to 315 school places providing an additional 105 school places with implementation from September 2014.