Issue - meetings

Report to follow.

(Councillors David Brickhill, Paul Findlow and Peter Mason had declared personal interests in this item.  In accordance with the Constitution they remained in the meeting during its consideration.)

Consideration was given to a report Cheshire County Council’s Director of Children’s Services detailing a number of high profile important issues relating to the Transforming Learning Communities review of Macclesfield. 

The Cabinet was informed that since the report had been prepared the decision sought by the Portfolio Holder had been amended to take account of representations received from the local community.  A copy of the amended decision sought was circulated.

RESOLVED

For the reasons set out in the report and as now reported: -

The shadow Cheshire East Council Cabinet offers the following advice to the County Council’s Children’s Services Executive:

(i)         Macclesfield TLC

a)         The Council warmly welcomes the proposed establishment of a new joint Church School to serve Macclesfield.  It supports, therefore, the proposed closure of St Barnabas CE Primary School and St Edward’s Catholic Primary School, and the establishment of a new joint Church School on the St Edward’s site.

b)         The Council notes with regret the situation relating to Ash Grove Primary School and supports the County Council’s proposal to enter into formal statutory consultation on the proposed closure of the school.

c)         The Council notes the situation in Bollington, but urges the County Council not to proceed with the statutory consultation on the proposed closure of Bollington St John’s CE Primary School at this time.  Cheshire East Council asks the County Council to invite the Governing Bodies of Bollington Cross CE Primary School and Bollington St John’s CE Primary School to enter into a hard Federation, with a single Governing Body and Headteacher.  It asks the County Council to support the Governing Bodies in considering Federation, which would prudently be achieved at the earliest opportunity.  Thereafter, the Governing Body of the Federated schools should be asked to bring forward robust proposals to address the pressing need to reduce surplus accommodation at the Federated schools, with a view to reducing the level of surplus school places to an appropriate level.  It is acknowledged that a failure to respond positively and swiftly to this invitation may result in the need for the proposed closure to be given further consideration.

(ii)        Alsager, Sandbach, Congleton and Holmes Chapel TLC Review

            Cheshire East Council endorses the action taken by the County Council to launch the TLC Review of the area and to engage in the informal consultation on possible options.  It asks that the County Council should present the outcome of informal consultation to the Cabinet of the Shadow Authority at the earliest opportunity, so that the Cabinet is able to offer formative advice in determining the substance of any proposals for further consideration and how the review should proceed further.

(iii)       Primary Strategy for Change-Primary Capital Programme

Cheshire East Council formally adopts the Strategy produced for Cheshire East by the County Council and expresses its gratitude for the work undertaken.

In  ...  view the full minutes text for item 25