Councillor Lucy Smith, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, presented the report which set out those proposed plans for relocation of the Secondary Pupil Referral Unit (Spring Lane School) in order to provide the Department for Education (DfE) with vacant possession of the site, and sought approval for the financial arrangements to deliver those plans. Members noted the request for ease of access for the leisure centre, which was not part of this report but was linked with the wider regeneration.
Decision:
Cabinet approved the transfer of Spurr House from Adult Care to Children and Young People within the Council’s estate management arrangements.
Reasons for the decision:
· To unlock the delivery of a new secondary school for Radcliffe.
· Utilise a Council owned vacant building for re-development.
· To enable the project to develop new specialist educational provision to progress.
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 obligations, including providing DFE with vacant possession of the Spring Lane site by an agreed date, to facilitate the construction of the new secondary school in Radcliffe. Failure to provide such commitments will prevent the new school in Radcliffe scheme from progressing.