Agenda and minutes

Present:

Mr D Kenny – Schools Group

Mr I Garforth – Schools Group

Mr J Sutton – Schools Group

Ms J Taylor – Further/ Higher Education Group

In Attendance

Mr G Turnbull – Education Leeds

Ms L Savage – Education Leeds

Mrs S Morgan – Education Leeds

Mrs A Oldroyd – Legal Services – Legal Advisor to the Board

Mr J Grieve – Governance Services – Clerk to the Board

To seek nominations for the position of Chair

The Clerk to the Board sought nominations for the position of Chair and Vice Chair to the School Organisation Advisory Board

Mr J Sutton nominated Mr I Garforth, Mr D Kenny seconded the proposal

RESOLVED –

(i)  That Mr Ian Garforth be elected Chair of the School Organisation Advisory Board for a one year period

(ii)  That the position of Vice Chair be determined at the next meeting

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Reverend C Sedgewick

To receive any declarations of interest.

There were no declarations of interest

To consider a report by the Legal Advisor to the Board explaining the role of the Board in considering objections to the following proposals and to make recommendations to the Executive Board to assist the Executive Board in reaching a decision in relation to the proposals:

Statutory proposals to expand Victoria Lane Primary School by increasing the admission limit from 50 to 60 from September 2010 and linked proposals to expand Whitkirk Primary School by increasing the admission limit from 45 to 60 from September 2010 and to establish SEN provision for 14 places

(Report attached)

The Board considered a report by the Legal Advisor to the School Organisation Advisory Board explaining the role of the Board in considering objections to the following proposals and to make recommendations to the Executive Board to assist the Executive Board in reaching a decision in relation to the following proposals:

Statutory proposals to expand Victoria Primary School by increasing the admission limit from 50 to 60 from September 2010 and linked proposals to expand Whitkirk Primary School by increasing the admission limit from 45 to 60 from September 2010 and to establish SEN provision for 14 places.

It was reported that there were five responses to the Statutory Notices in respect of Victoria Primary School and Whitkirk Primary School

Three objections to the expansion of Victoria Primary School and two objections to the expansion of Whitkirk Primary School

The Board considered the following background documentation:

• Executive Board Report 12^th February 2010 – Outcome of Consultation for the expansion of primary provision for September 2010
• Executive Board Report 12^th February 2010 – Outcome of Consultation on the expansion of primary provision at Gildersome Primary School in 2011 and at Richmond Hill Primary School in 2012
• Executive Board Report 14^th October 2009 – Proposal for Statutory Consultation for the expansion of Primary Provision for September 2010
• Executive Board Report 22^nd July 2009 – Proposed Increases in Admission Limits for September 2010
• Executive Board Report 17^th June 2009 – Proposal to add Specialist Community Provision at Whitkirk Primary School for Pupils with complex physical difficulties and medical needs
• Executive Board Report June 2009 – Expanding Primary Place Provision
• Seven letters of representation

Members discussed the proposals, concentrating on the following issues:

·  The recent increase in the birth rate leading to an increase in existing provision

·  Possible traffic access arrangements as a consequence of the proposed expansion plans

The Chair adjourned the meeting in order for groups to discuss the proposals

The groups entitled to vote, and in attendance i.e. the Schools Group and the Further /Higher Education Group voted were as follows:

·  The Schools Group voted in favour of the proposals because   of the need for resource/ provision in the area. The Group   expressed concern at the possible access implications as a   consequence of the expansion to Victoria Primary School   and Whitkirk Primary School and suggested that officers   from Education Leeds and the Highways Department work   together to resolve the issue. 

·  The Further / Higher Education Group voted in favour of the   proposal for the reason of no similar provision in the area. The Group also expressed concern about the parking

RESOLVED –

  It was the view of the School Organisation Advisory Board that the   Executive Board be recommended to support the proposals

Possible future business for the Advisory Board to consider:

• Proposal for the closure of City Of Leeds High School as part of the National Challenge response.

Other notices which are still running and do not have any objections yet but may also need to be considered are:

• Closure of Primrose High School And Parklands Girls High School as part of National Challenge

• Change of age range and expansion of Featherbank Infant School and Newlaithes Junior School (to become through primary schools)

• Expansion of Blackgates, Windmill, Clapgate and Ryecroft primary schools

All notices expire on 28^th May 2010, the Executive Board will consider all the proposals at it’s meeting on 21^st July 2010

Identifying possible future business for the Board Mr G Turnbull, Head of Services, School Organisation, Education Leeds said that currently out for consultation was a proposal for the closure of the City of Leeds High School as part of the National Challenge response.

It was reported that to date two objections had been received so this would be brought to the Board at a later date for consideration.

Other Notices which were still running where to date no objections had been received included:

• Closure of Primrose High School and Parklands Girls High School as part of the National Challenge

• Change of age range and expansion of Featherbank Infant School and Newlaithes Junior School (to become through Primary Schools)

• Expansion of Blackgates, Windmill, Clapgate and Ryecroft Primary Schools

It was reported that all Notices would expire on 28^th May 2010, the Executive Board would consider all the proposals at it’s meeting on 21^st July 2010

To note that the next meeting of the Board will take place on Thursday 1st July 2010 at 2.00pm in the Civic Hall, Leeds

RESOLVED - That the next of the meeting of the Board be scheduled for Thursday 1^st July 2010 at 2.00pm in the Civic Hall, Leeds