Agenda item

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.