Agenda item
MODERNISING EDUCATION PROGRAMME - RUTHIN PRIMARY AREA
- Meeting of Cabinet, Tuesday, 13 January 2015 10.00 am (Item 5.)
- View the declarations of interest for item 5.
To consider a report by Councillor Eryl Williams, Lead Member for Education (copy enclosed) seeking Cabinet approval to commence consultation on school organisation proposals and to recommend to Council approval of investment for three primary school projects in the Ruthin area.
Decision:
RESOLVED that Cabinet –
(a) approve
proceeding to formal consultation for the proposed closure of Ysgol Llanfair DC and Ysgol Pentrecelyn as of the 31 August 2016 and to open a new
Category 2 Voluntary Controlled school based on the existing sites on the 1
September 2016;
(b) approve proceeding to
formal consultation for the proposed closure of Ysgol
Rhewl as of 31 August 2017 with pupils transferring
to either Ysgol Penbarras
or Rhos Street to coincide with the opening of the
new school buildings, and
(c) recommend
to Council the approval of the business cases and capital allocation for
1. the replacement of the
existing Rhos Street/Ysgol Penbarras provision at the Glasdir
Site
2. a new school building for Ysgol Carreg Emlyn
3. a new school building for
the Llanfair and Pentrecelyn area school, subject to
the outcome of the school organisation proposals.
Minutes:
Councillor Eryl
Williams presented the report seeking Cabinet approval to commence consultation
on school organisation proposals arising from the Ruthin
area review and to recommend to Council approval of investment for three
primary school projects in the area.
Cabinet members had familiarised themselves
with all schools subject to the Ruthin area review
and were fully aware of the needs and requirements of each of those
schools. It was emphasised that no decision
had been made regarding the proposals and approval was sought to start that
consultation process. In terms of the
financial commitment to school projects, Councillor Julian Thompson advised
that following review of the business cases, the Strategic Investment Group had
recommended approval. He clarified that
the projects were not part of the 21st Century Schools funded projects but the
Council had sufficient in-house capital to deliver them. Councillor Eryl
Williams added that although there was no reliance on external funding he was
hopeful 21st Century Schools funding could be secured.
The rationale behind the reorganisation of
primary schools in Ruthin had been detailed within
the report and Cabinet discussed with officers the report recommendations in
order to progress the next stage of the school organisation proposals. Main discussion points on the recommendations
included –
·
Consultation on the proposed closure of Ysgol Llanfair DC and Ysgol Pentrecelyn and opening of a new Category 2 Voluntary
Controlled school
Cabinet was advised of the general support for
an area school to replace the two schools, particularly given the state of the
existing buildings. The contentious
issue in this proposal was the language categorisation of the new school but
the intention was not to start debate at this time but to commence consultation
and report back to a future meeting. It
was noted that parents and other interested parties had already raised concerns
and assurances were provided that all issues raised would be discussed and
carefully considered during the consultation process before a decision was
taken. The Leader had met with
representatives from both schools and reported upon the strong feelings around
the categorisation issue and different viewpoints held. He was keen for a new school to best benefit
the children and area in the future.
Reference was made to the review of the language categorisation of the
county’s schools and officers provided assurances that the categorisation of
all schools was monitored through the Welsh in Education Strategic Group. Councillor Meirick
Davies felt strongly that the consultation should involve the opening of a new
Category 1 school as opposed to Category 2.
Councillor Eryl Williams accepted that view
but responded that the arguments in terms of categorisation would be the same
and all issues would be considered during the consultation process. Assurances were sought that pupils would not be
disadvantaged by a subsequent change to the language categorisation and
officers highlighted that Welsh Medium stream pupils in Category 2 schools were
required to achieve the same outcomes as pupils in Category 1 schools.
·
Consultation on the proposed closure of Ysgol Rhewl with pupils transferring
to Ysgol Penbarras or Rhos Street
The rationale behind the proposal was
reiterated based on the long term sustainability of Ysgol
Rhewl. Some
reservations were expressed over whether the proposed school at Glasdir could accommodate additional pupils given the
proposed number of school places.
Officers explained the calculations for pupil numbers together with
other considerations including surplus capacity – there was flexibility within
the process at this stage which would allow pupil projections to be revised
depending upon other outcomes such as those relating to Ysgol
Rhewl and Ysgol Llanbedr which would allow the school to be sized
appropriately for the area. Councillor Huw Williams submitted apologies from Councillor Merfyn Parry and shared the views of Ysgol
Rhewl Governors who would campaign against school
closure. Officers advised that the Headteacher had been notified informally ahead of the
Cabinet meeting and all other issues should be raised as part of the
consultation process. In terms of
surplus places it would not be appropriate to apply different criteria to
school projects not subject to 21st century schools funding. Councillor Martyn Holland highlighted the
importance of communication and officers reported upon the extent of the
consultation in this regard in order to provide an open and transparent
process.
·
To recommend to Council the approval of the
business cases and capital allocation for three primary school projects in the Ruthin area
Councillor Eryl
Williams highlighted the importance of allocating specific funding at this
stage in order to provide greater certainty and reflect the Council’s
commitment to the school building projects if the proposals were approved.
(i) Glasdir Site (relocation of Rhos Street/Ysgol Penbarras) –
Officers clarified the proposal for two schools on a shared site at Glasdir and reported upon discussions with school
representatives regarding their requirements which would be accommodated as far
as possible given the project’s financial constraints and addressed as part of
the detailed design stage. Local Members
welcomed the proposals for the two schools at the Glasdir
site but raised a number of issues requiring consideration, predominately
around the use of shared facilities and traffic management, highlighting that
input from school representatives was paramount when considering their future
requirements. Officers acknowledged that
the correct building design was crucial, reporting on work undertaken to manage
the schools’ expectations and requirements to deliver efficiencies to benefit
both schools within the financial and time constraints for the project. Any capital receipts generated upon
completion of the school projects would be retained corporately. Further assurances were provided that the
number of school places would be appropriately revised following the outcomes
of other reviews relating to Ysgol Rhewl and Ysgol Llanbedr. It was
also accepted that planning permission for the Glasdir
site had lapsed but officers were in touch with Planning Officers and confident
that with the right design securing planning permission would not be an issue.
(ii) Ysgol Carreg Emlyn – Members were advised that the report contained
indicative timescales for the proposed new school building but it was likely
that the project could commence at an earlier stage if approved because there
was no requirement to submit statutory notice of the proposal.
(iii)
Llanfair and Pentrecleyn Area School –
The
proposal for a new school building for the Llanfair and Pentrecelyn
area had been discussed as part of the first recommendation.
In moving the recommendations Councillor Eryl Williams thanked members for their contributions to
debate.
RESOLVED that Cabinet –
(a) approve
proceeding to formal consultation for the proposed closure of Ysgol Llanfair DC and Ysgol Pentrecelyn as of the 31 August 2016 and to open a new
Category 2 Voluntary Controlled school based on the existing sites on the 1
September 2016;
(b) approve proceeding to
formal consultation for the proposed closure of Ysgol
Rhewl as of 31 August 2017 with pupils transferring
to either Ysgol Penbarras
or Rhos Street to coincide with the opening of the
new school buildings, and
(c) recommend
to Council the approval of the business cases and capital allocation for
1. the replacement of the
existing Rhos Street/Ysgol Penbarras provision at the Glasdir
Site
2. a new school building for Ysgol Carreg Emlyn
3. a new school building for
the Llanfair and Pentrecelyn area school, subject to
the outcome of the school organisation proposals.
At this juncture (11.30 a.m.) the meeting
adjourned for a refreshment break.
Supporting documents:
- MEP - RUTHIN PRIMARY AREA, item 5. PDF 94 KB
- MEP - RUTHIN PRIMARY AREA - APP 1, item 5. PDF 74 KB
- MEP - RUTHIN PRIMARY AREA - APP 2, item 5. PDF 1 MB
- MEP - RUTHIN PRIMARY AREA - APP 2(1), item 5. PDF 329 KB
- MEP - RUTHIN PRIMARY AREA - APP 3, item 5. PDF 771 KB
- MEP - RUTHIN PRIMARY AREA - APP 3(1), item 5. PDF 469 KB
- MEP - RUTHIN PRIMARY AREA - APP 4, item 5. PDF 99 KB
- MEP - RUTHIN PRIMARY AREA - APP 4(1), item 5. PDF 99 KB
- MEP - RUTHIN PRIMARY AREA - APP 4(2), item 5. PDF 98 KB
- MEP - RUTHIN PRIMARY AREA - APP 4(3), item 5. PDF 99 KB
- MEP - RUTHIN PRIMARY AREA - APP 4(4), item 5. PDF 99 KB