Agenda and minutes

It was moved and seconded that Councillor Paul Findlow be appointed as Chairman for the meeting.

RESOLVED

That Councillor P Findlow be appointed as Chairman for the meeting.

To provide an opportunity for Members and Officers to declare any disclosable pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests in any item on the agenda.

None.

To consider the proposal to expand Wilmslow Grange Community Primary and Nursery from 210 to 315 school places and Dean Oaks Primary from 315 to 420 pupil places with a planned implementation date for September 2014.

Consideration was given to the proposal to expand Wilmslow Grange Community Primary and Nursery, Handforth, Wilmslow and Dean Oaks Primary, Handforth, Wilmslow.

The proposal for expansion had been made in response to a shortfall in the number of Primary School places in the Handforth area due to population changes.  Details were included in the full proposal attached as an appendix to a report prepared by the Director of Children’s Services.

A report detailing the outcome of the formal consultation undertaken between 30 April 2013 and 4 June 2013 was presented to the Cabinet Member for Children and Family Services on 1 July 2013, whereupon permission was given to issue a statutory public notice for the expansion of Wilmslow Grange Community Primary and Nursery from 210 to 315 school places and Dean Oaks Primary from 315 to 420 pupil places.

Following publication of the public notice a statutory 4 week representation period commenced on 18 July 2013 and concluded on 15 August 2013.  Three objections and one response in support of the proposal to expand Wilmslow Grange had been received and two objections to the proposal to expand Dean Oaks Primary School had been received details of which were given in the report.

On behalf of the Proposer, Barbara Dale, the Admissions and Appeals Manager attended the meeting and presented the proposal along with Phil Yeomans, the Capital Development Officer who was also in attendance.  In addition three objectors and the two Ward Councillors B Burkhill and D Mahon were in attendance.  All made representations and were questioned by the Committee.

Two of the objectors felt that other alternatives should be considered ie the re-opening of the Oakenclough Children’s Centre as a new Primary School rather than expanding Dean Oaks Primary School.

The other objector raised concerns regarding the traffic problems at Wilmslow Grange and that further expansion would only serve to exacerbate the problems.

In response the Admissions and Appeals Manager gave information and made statements on the different matters raised.

In accordance with the Sub Committee’s procedures Members then considered the matter in private, in particular they considered:

• the statutory school organisation process followed by the Proposer to date and were satisfied that the documentation demonstrated that the procedures and documentation complied with both the law and the guidance;
• whether the need for creating additional primary school places had been proven and, given the increasing numbers of children being born in the area and the planned housing developments in the Macclesfield area, Members concluded that the evidence did show that there was a shortage of Primary school places;
• the strong presumption by the Government that proposals to expand successful and popular schools such as Wilmslow Grange Community Primary and Nursery and Dean Oaks Primary should be approved;
• the Sub Committee also noted that Cabinet had already approved sufficient funding to deliver this proposal;
• the effect that this proposal was likely to have on transport and traffic problems in the area.  They discussed how the school and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

To consider the proposal to expand Ash Grove Primary School and Nursery, Macclesfield from 105 to 210 pupil places with a planned implementation date for September 2014.

Consideration was given to the proposal to expand Ash Grove Primary School and Nursery, Macclesfield.

The proposal for expansion had been made in response to a shortfall in the number of Primary School places in the Macclesfield area due to population changes.  Details were included in the full proposal attached as an appendix to a report prepared by the Director of Children’s Services.

A report detailing the outcome of the formal consultation undertaken between 30 April 2013 and 4 June 2013 was presented to the Cabinet Member for Children and Family Services on 1 July 2013, whereupon permission was given to issue a statutory public notice for the expansion of the school to increase its capacity from 105 pupil places to 210.

Following publication of the public notice a statutory 4 week representation period commenced on 17 July 2013 and concluded on 14 August 2013.  One objection had been received details of which were given in the report.

On behalf of the Proposer, Barbara Dale, the Admissions and Appeals Manager attended the meeting and presented the proposal.  She and Phil Yeomans, the Capital Development Officer who was also in attendance were questioned by Members of the Sub Committee.

In accordance with the Sub Committee’s procedures Members then considered the matter in private, in particular they considered:

• the statutory school organisation process followed by the Proposer to date and were satisfied that the documentation demonstrated that the procedures and documentation complied with both the law and the guidance;
• whether the need for creating additional primary school places had been proven and, given the increasing numbers of children being born in the area and the planned housing developments in the Macclesfield area, Members concluded that the evidence did show that there was a shortage of Primary school places;
• the strong presumption by the Government that proposals to expand successful and popular schools such as Ash Grove should be approved;
• the Sub Committee also noted that Cabinet had already approved sufficient funding to deliver this proposal;

The meeting then reconvened in public and the Chairman announced the decision.

RESOLVED

That the expansion of Ash Grove Primary School and Nursery, Macclesfield from 105 school places to 210 with a proposed implementation date of September 2014 be approved.