Agenda item

The Council has a statutory duty to secure sufficient schools are available for their area to provide primary and secondary education. The Primary and Secondary School Organisation Plan 2017 – 2021 at Appendix 1 (the Plan) covers in detail the current level of primary and secondary school provision in the Authority and detailed projected pupil numbers over the next four years up to admissions in September 2021 based on births and resident population data.

Estimated pupil numbers as a consequence of the future planned housing development expected to be delivered within the Adopted Core Strategy and Placemaking Plan period up to 2029 and the emerging Local Plan period up to 2036 are also outlined. Estimates for the number of school places likely to be required as a result and proposals as to how and where these might be provided are also included.

Councillor Dine Romero made an ad-hoc statement where she expressed her concerns with the report; in particular that some longstanding issues in the South West of Bath were still not considered.  Councillor Romero also said that only St Martins School would have an increase in places for children from the Foxhill regeneration development.  Councillor Romero concluded her statement by expressing concern on the lack of secondary school places for children from South West of Bath due to the closure of BCA School and that some children would have to travel over 3 miles to get to allocated schools.

Councillor Paul Crossley made an ad-hoc statement and also expressed his concern with the report as he felt that the paper did not reference an increase of population in Bath and North East Somerset.  Councillor Crossley felt that parents of children living in South West Bath were discriminated in relation to their choice of schools, especially those parents who were on lower income scale.  Councillor Crossley concluded his statement by asking the Cabinet to send this report back to officers for further work on these matters.

Councillor Tim Ball made an ad-hoc statement by expressing his concern that children from South West Bath, who were with special educational needs, would have to travel long distances to the school with SEN provision.  Councillor Ball also asked the Cabinet to send this report back to officers for further work on these issues.

Councillor Will Sandry made an ad-hoc statement where he also expressed concern on the report.  Councillor Sandry felt that it was not appropriate to put all of the children from South West of Bath in Bath schools since the BCA closure.  Councillor Sandry also said that such move would affect children’s travel and education.

Councillor Eleanor Jackson made an ad-hoc statement where she questioned estimated figures of new children arriving in Radstock and Westfield area as a result of new housing provision on previous railway land.  Councillor Jackson also expressed her concern that academies would not take as many children as expected.

Councillor Paul May introduced the report by saying that this report had been seen by the Children and Young People PDS Panel before coming to the Cabinet, with the reflection on a need to sufficient school places in Bath and North East Somerset.  Councillor May responded to concerns raised at the meeting in terms of placement of children from South West Bath into St Marks School by saying that the school was a good school with a provision of good and quality education.

Councillor May also said that should future proposed new housing development identified in the Local Plan in a particular area be projected to result in a shortfall of primary school places, the Authority would apply CIL funding or seek S106 Developer Contributions to provide additional school places. These places would likely to be delivered via the expansion of existing schools, with the exception of proposed new housing in Keynsham and Whitchurch, where whole new schools would be required.  In those areas where options for delivery of additional places via the expansion of existing schools were limited because the schools cannot be expanded as the sites they occupy were not large enough, any future housing allocation in these areas would require whole new schools to be provided.

Councillor Paul May moved the recommendations.

Councillor Charles Gerrish seconded the motion by saying that he had understood concerns raised at this meeting, however the design and specification of schools was responsibility of the Department of Education and not the Council.  Nevertheless, Councillor Gerrish welcomed the report and added that officers would continue to work closely with colleagues in Planning Policy to ensure that any land requirements for school expansions or the provision of new schools were reflected in the emerging Local Plan.

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.