Issue - meetings

Report of the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People is attached.

Councillor Lucy Smith, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, presented the Part B report which set out the financial details.

Decision:

Cabinet:

1.    Noted the indicative financial costs that will fall to the Council;

2.    Approved the funding of indicative costs as set out in Part B of this report, to meet the Council’s financial obligations, to be met from the Children’s Services schools capital programme; and

3.    Delegated approval of the final costs to the Executive Director of Finance.

Reasons for the decision:

As set out for the Part A report.

Alternative options considered and rejected:

As set out for the Part A report.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People is attached.

Councillor Lucy Smith, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, presented the report regarding the delivery of a new secondary school in Radcliffe. It was noted that there was typo in the report, and that the Council had been asked to provide vacant possession of the site by September 2023 (not 2022). It was further noted that the feasibility study was still awaited but a meeting with DfE was taking place this week.

Decision:

Cabinet:

1.    Noted the indicative financial costs that will fall to the Council;

2.    Approved the funding of indicative costs as set out in Part B of this report, to meet the Council’s financial obligations, to be met from the Children’s Services schools capital programme; and

3.    Delegated approval of the final costs to the Executive Director of Finance.

Reasons for the decision:

·         To unlock the delivery of a new secondary school for Radcliffe.

·         Utilise a Council owned Brownfield site for development.

Alternative options considered and rejected:

In order to deliver the new school in Radcliffe, the Council is required to confirm that it will commit to meet certain financial obligations. Failure to provide such a commitment will prevent the scheme form being progressed.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People is attached.

The Committee received a Part B report of the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People regarding the delivery of a new secondary school in Radcliffe. This report set out the indicative costs falling to the Council.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People is attached.

The Committee received a report of the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People regarding the delivery of a new secondary school in Radcliffe.

Ordinarily, the Department for Education (DfE) would primarily work with the sponsor, in this case Star Academy, to agree the design and delivery milestones for the new Free School but given the critical role that the Council has played in securing the approval for the new school and the important role the new school plays in the wider socio-economic regeneration of Radcliffe, the Council has continued to meet with DfE and Star Academy on a monthly basis to maintain progress. This report focused on the financial approvals needed from the Council, to be funded from Children’s Services schools capital budget, and it was noted that a range of factors had been discussed regarding which organisation would be financially responsible for each to ensure a fair distribution of costs.

Members noted that work with local primary schools had begun with Star Academy regarding attendance and curriculums but that it was challenging to keep the DfE focussed on Radcliffe delivery in the context of its wider remit. In response to Members’ questions, it was noted that a meeting had been scheduled in August with the Radcliffe Swimming & Waterpolo Club when the project would enter RIBA Stage 4 and more detailed information would be available. It was also noted that Sports England were currently reviewing the plans for the swimming pool, after which these could be shared more widely.

In response to further questions, it was noted that the North Block plans were at an early stage but was planned to be mixed use with a combination of parking and some retail. With regards to the feasibility study, it was noted that although this was overdue, it had been followed up and regular contact continued with Star Academy and the DfE.

It was agreed that:

The Radcliffe Cabinet Committee:

1.    Note the indicative financial costs that will fall to the Council;

2.    Note that the Cabinet will be asked to approve the funding of indicative costs as set out in Part B of this report, to meet the Council’s financial obligations, to be met from the Children’s Services schools capital programme; and

3.    Note that the Cabinet will be asked to delegate approval of the final costs to the Executive Director of Finance.