Agenda item

(to follow)

To enable Members to undertake pre-decision scrutiny of proposals in relation to the case for a specialist resource base across the city, including new provision at Moorlands Primary School, and seeks cabinet approval to consult.

The Chair welcomed Councillor Sarah Merry (Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Education, Employment & Skills), Melanie Godfrey (Director of Education & Lifelong Learning), Michele Duddrige-Friedl (Operational Manager, Planning & Provision), and Richard Portas (Programme Director of School Organisation Planning) to the meeting. 

The Chair and Councillor Joyce declared a personal interest as councillors for Llanrumney.

Councillor Merry was invited to make a statement during which she referred to the draft report for Cabinet and its recommendation to go to consultation on the proposals to transfer, expand and redevelop The Court Special School and the proposed establishment of specialist learning resource provision at Moorland Primary School.

Members were advised that the proposal regarding The Court Special School is one of a series of measures planned, and that £1.3m funding has been allocated to supply Flying Start provision.

Members were asked to comment or raise questions on the information received.  Those discussions are summarised as follows:

·       Members were concerned about whether the proposals were sufficient to meet anticipated growth in need for specialist learning resource provision. Members were advised that it was important to understand the position in relation to need including to complex learning, emotional health and wellbeing and that the current proposal was only a starting point.

·       Members sought clarification on the total expected capital and revenue costs of The Court proposal and the extent to which capital receipts from the sale of The Court site were factored into the calculation, and the financial relationship between the acquisition of the Ty Glas site and The Court proposal. Members were advised that the proposal is funded within the capital envelope of the Band B programme. The scope of the programme has changed over time but the affordability is the same. There is no relationship between The Court proposal and the Ty Glas acquisition. The receipts from the sale of The Court site feed into the overall capital position of Band B.

·       Members sought clarification as to how The Court would be managed across two sites, and whether the full primary age range would be accommodated on each site or whether the different sites would accommodate different age groups. Members were advised that conversations had begun with the school and that staffing and governance changes associated with the split site arrangement were required. Few children from the Foundation Stage are enrolled at The Court and while the full primary age range would be present on both sites it would mostly be children from the older years. The two sites are carefully located near to primary schools so there should be good inclusion and benefits across Fairwater and Penybryn.

RESOLVED:

That the Chairperson writes to the Cabinet Member on behalf of the Committee expressing their comments and observations during the Way Forward.