Decision details

The Plan outlines the current level of provision and pupil projections in detail up to 2021 and in broader terms up to 2036. Estimates of the number of school places likely to be required and how and where these might be provided are also included.

The Children & Young People Panel at its meeting on Tuesday 20^th March 2018 resolved to:

i)  Note the proposed strategy for the provision of school places within the 2017 – 2021 plan period.

ii)  Note the proposed strategy for the provision of school places over the longer term within the Core Strategy period and the emerging approach for the Local Plan period.

CALL IN

The Cabinet Decision E3037 “Primary and Secondary School Organisation Plan 2017 - 2021” has been Called In by 10 Councillors on 18^th April 2018 (verified on 25^th April 2018).

Reasons for a Call In of Decision E3037:

1. The Greater Bath Consortium Planning Area is too large to be practical as a means of planning the distribution of school places. Whilst a sufficient number of places are currently available across the whole city, this mechanism does not meet families’ needs as it does not take geographical context into account. This creates a different system for Bath children compared to those from North East Somerset (where geographical divisions form part of the plan), which may be discriminatory.
2. Families from the South West of Bath are being disproportionately penalised by being allocated places at schools which are the furthest from home. This puts the biggest burden of travel on families from the part of the city which has on average the lowest family incomes. This may be an equalities issue which has not been fully considered.
3. The planning system fails to consider the air quality implications of home to school travel as well as issues of congestion, time taken, and cost to families.
4. Pupils with special educational needs or extra needs may be disadvantaged by the challenge of independent travel.
5. Pupils travelling long distances to school may be disadvantaged in their social development by not living close to classmates.
6. The planning system does not make an allowance for the number of children from outside of Bath and North East Somerset attending Bath schools, nor does it allow for the reciprocal arrangements adopted by Hayesfield and Beechen Cliff schools for siblings.
7. It fails to look to the longer-term with regards to provision requirements at secondary level and the potential need for new schools.

Signatories:

1. Councillor Paul Crossley – lead
2. Councillor Dine Romero
3. Councillor Rob Appleyard
4. Councillor Steve Hedges
5. Councillor Michelle O’Doherty
6. Councillor Richard Samuel
7. Councillor Tim Ball
8. Councillor Will Sandry
9. Councillor Nigel Roberts
10. Councillor Shaun Stephenson-McGall

The Call In request will be considered by the Children and Young People Policy Development and Scrutiny Panel on 15^th May 2018.

NOTE:

The Children and Young People Policy and Development Scrutiny Panel have dismissed the Call In on 15th May 2018.

RESOLVED (unanimously) that the Cabinet agreed:

2.1  Approve the proposed strategy for the provision of school places within the 2017 – 2021 plan period.

2.2  Approve the proposed strategy for the provision of school places over the longer term within the Core Strategy period and agree the emerging approach for the Local Plan period.

The Local Authority retains responsibility for pupil place planning in its area. In order to do this effectively the Local Authority must identify where new school places will be required as a result of underlying population growth and pupils generated from new housing development, how much additional provision is required and when. This additional provision might be provided via Basic Need funding from the Government or S106 Developer Contributions or CIL as a result of new housing developments.

There is projected to be a future shortfall in school places in some areas and the Authority must plan for the additional provision that is needed. The Plan will serve as a useful planning tool to identify areas and levels of need, when investment in places will be needed and also to inform discussions with Developers concerning S106 Developer Contributions and land.

None.