Agenda item

To undertake the pre-decision scrutiny of the Cabinet proposals in relation to Cathays High School.

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

Councillor Merry was invited to make a statement during which she referred to the paper to Cabinet reporting back objections to the published statutory notice regarding the plan to increase capacity at Cathays High School, replace the school buildings with new build accommodation, and expand the current Specialist Resource Base (SRB) for learners with Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) from 16 to 50 places.

Members were reminded that the Band B programme was designed around tackling deficiency of places in secondary schools. Cathays High School was included due to its location and condition and that is why the Council is proceeding despite the objections. The Council has to weigh up the concerns that have been brought forward against the aims it was trying to achieve. Many objections have been raised regarding the moving of the cycle track. However, moving the track is necessary to provide the new school with space and playing fields, and to make provision for open access space. It also provides an opportunity to provide an improved track that will help grow cycling in the city. The new school will have enhanced sport and community facilities.

The Councillor further reminded Members that catchment areas need to be reviewed. The current catchment areas are not always logical or equal in size with centrally located schools. The expansion of Cathays High School will make it sustainable and will complement the amendment of catchment areas.

Members were advised that any decision would be subject to Charity Commission approval, and that there had been comments in relation to Crown Way. This has been examined in more detail and the Council would look to keep Crown Way open.

More than 100 emails having been received from members of the public regarding the proposals it had been decided to consider the public’s concerns under 5 main headings. Those discussions are summarised as follows:

Capacity of the site

Members discussed whether the site would be large enough to accommodate a school of 1,450 pupils and sought clarification on the minimum requirements for a school of that size.

Members were advised that the overall proposed area of the site is 46,000 sq. metres which is the minimum size required for a school of this size. The school will meet BB requirements under a constrained site. There is insufficient space for grass fields so 2 3g pitches will be provided which would be counted twice in terms of 2 grass pitches. If required there would be supplementary sports provision at Heath Park. It is probable that the school would be able through timetabling to increase utilisation of the 3g pitches such that it would not need the Heath Park facilities, but the Heath Park provision would be available if necessary.

Members were further advised that there would be a little more than 13,500 sq. metres available for open access areas. This is more than the current provision which is around 12,000 sq. metres. The existing school site is approximately 20,000 sq. metres which is insufficient under BB guidance. The new site will be compliant and will continue to have an area for GLL and a BMX track area. There will be shared car parking with GLL.

Members discussed whether the site boundary outlined on the map was fixed or whether there might be adjustments. Members were advised that the boundary was agreed with GLL and it was not anticipated that there would be any significant changes.

Members were advised that the Building Bulletins were a capacity measuring device used in England that Welsh Government adopted as guidance, and are not a statutory requirement in Wales. Allowances are made for locations as they would be in England where sites are constrained.

Strategic decision for expansion

Members discussed the strategic decision in favour of expanding Cathays High School to 8 FE and the decision to reduce the size of Willows High School. The assumption appears to be that Cathays High School will continue to take the majority of its pupils from out of catchment. Members were concerned about the implications for travel across the city. Members were also concerned about the long-term sustainability of the school in regard to the projections for declining intake in the latter half of the decade.

Members were advised that Cathays High School is being brought forward because of its central location whereas Willows High School is in the southern part of the city. It is operating at a larger size to relieve pressure on other schools. It is a misconception that the pressure is only coming from the south of the city. It is not just in one catchment area and one school that there is oversubscription. If additional places were put in other schools it would compound the problems in relation to cross-city travel.

Members were further advised that the Council had reviewed the number of school places that were going to be needed. Willows had originally been put down for 8 FE as well as Cathays, but the Council has since recognised that there is a reduction in the birth rate. Cathays has had to expand to 8 FE but Willows is not full at its current size. There will need to be changes to the catchment areas at some point.

Members were further advised that Cathays was important to the city as a ‘pressure valve’, taking children from catchment and local areas. If it was not available at a larger size there would be a need to transfer more children across the city. Due to its central location it provides flexibility where catchment areas are not perfectly aligned. While the number of children entering the school is expected to drop after 2024 it is expected to increase again in 25 years.

Members were advised that Cathays is expected to accommodate 6-8 FE until at least 2028 when the numbers are expected to fall, and will help to deal with the growth in north-east Cardiff. Due to its central location it is bordered by several other catchment areas. Catchment areas will need to be reorganised in the future but there will need in the reorganisation to be a school with a central location.

Members sought clarification as to whether it was expected that Willows would retain more of its catchment in the future, and what implications there were for Cathays. Members were advised that the Willows proposal was being brought forward and it was expected there would be an increase in pupil numbers. A number of children who currently attend Cathays come from Stacey Primary School. It will be necessary to consider catchment changes at the correct time to capture the right blend of children for each school. There is a challenge for Willows to meet PAN but it is important to have flexibility so the school can grow.

Members also sought clarification on the implications of housing developments in the north-east of the city and whether they meant that the numbers of children currently expected to enter Cathays might not in fact do so. Members were advised that the developments would have an impact on schools in the north of the city and also on Cathays.

Members were further advised that it was expected that the interest and community trust in Willows would be rejuvenated to the extent that the school would be filled from within the local community. Residential developments in the area are capped in relation to the location and flood defences in the area. Willows also borders fewer catchment areas than Cathays. Within Cardiff there is a fluctuation of approximately 900 pupils from the top of the intake table to the bottom over a period of 12 years. The Council can only make projections based on the visible data, historic trends and aspirations in regard to the future. The Council considers that the mix is right between the 2 schools based on the information available and the scope for development in the LDP.

Members were reminded that it is difficult to predict future birth rates and demand for particular schools.

Financial implications

Members were sought clarification in regard to the financial implications of the proposal particularly in relation to the SOP revenue account, IT infrastructure and the school’s delegated budget.

Members were advised that the capital contributions that would need to be supported by the SOP revenue reserve would include anything related to the project. Within the MIM project is the core MIM project and capital elements associated with it. The capital elements will be funded with Welsh Government with the usual intervention rate of 65% to 35%.  The MIM element is 19% LA to 81%. The capital element relates to preparing the site including demolition. There are early allowances allocated for capital, the remainder comes under MIM. There will be a contribution out of the reserve for the relocation of the track. This will be 100% funded rather than having a contribution rate from Welsh Government. In regard to IT and schools’ delegated budgets, the Band B programme is funded in part by schools’ delegated budgets. There is no commitment in this regard.

Velodrome project

Members were concerned about the effect on the plans for the school if the Velodrome project did not go ahead.

Members were advised that the projects had been brought forward in close succession in order to get the alignment between the two correctly in place. It would require a Cabinet decision to proceed with the school before a significant investment could be made in the sports village. The reserve has been allocated to fund the capital for the track.

Members sought clarification on whether the allocation of the SOP reserve to fund the track was compatible with the guidance on how that funding should be used. Members were advised that it was and that the reserve would fund the capital finance. The relocation of the track is essential for the school project to proceed.

Scrutiny of the consultation process

Members were concerned about the scrutiny of the consultation process and the capacity of the Committee to scrutinise the consultation as fully as it might wish to. Members do not feel well-placed to scrutinise the proposal in the detail that they might like to because certain details are not yet available.

Members were advised that the same process was followed with each development in regard to agreeing the principle of the proposals. It was understandable that there was frustration that the details of the plans were not available, however those details would follow once the principle had been agreed. Comments made during the consultation influence the more detailed plans that are presented during the pre-planning stage.

Members were further the advised that the site had been tested to check that it meets requirements and early survey work had been carried out to make sure that it is viable. The next stage of working up the designs would involve significant costs and it would be difficult to progress that without some assurance that the project would proceed.

RESOLVED:

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