Agenda item

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Children and Family Services, the purpose of which was to present the draft strategy for the provision of school and other education places in Leicestershire for 2014/18, ‘In the Right Place’.  A copy of the report is filed with these minutes.

Arising from discussion, the following points were noted:

(i)            Whilst the Authority retained responsibility to ensure a sufficient supply of school places in Leicestershire, with the introduction of academies and free schools it no longer had direct control over a majority of Leicestershire schools;

(ii)          It would be important for the Authority to work closely with schools and other stakeholders to ensure there was a co-ordinated approach to school place planning.  Its aim would be to promote educational excellence, retain the high standards within schools as currently existed in Leicestershire, and ensure the education system was not de-stabilised by schools working in isolation;

(iii)         The Authority, through the recently allocated Basic Needs Capital funding for additional school places, would look carefully at how this might be used to support the expansion of good and popular schools.  Academies themselves could also apply for funding direct to the Education Funding Agency (EFA).  Where possible, the Authority would hold discussions with schools and the EFA with a view to bringing these funding streams together to ensure there was a joint approach to school expansions and resources were utilised as effectively as possible;

(iv)         The issue of Home to School Transport whilst interlinked with school place planning, being a cross departmental issue, would be considered by the Scrutiny Commission on 26 March 2014.  It was acknowledged that whilst transportation would be an important consideration for parents, parental preference was often the key driver of where children when to school;

(v)          Some members expressed the view that the 10+ system that operated in some areas across Leicestershire had been an anomaly which had not proved beneficial.  It was suggested that as the structure of the education system across the County changed, now might be an appropriate time for these to be removed.  Some considered that, if taken forward, such changes would need to be managed sensitively, noting that whilst the County Council could assist such changes, where they involved academies the decision would be made in agreement with the Department for Education;

(vi)         Housing developments across the County would have a significant impact on the future need of school places.  The Strategy would therefore need to have regard to the County Council’s policy on section 106 developer contributions which was currently being reviewed and the 2014/15 capital programme to be confirmed shortly.  It was acknowledged that there would be significant reliance on district councils as the local planning authority to secure section 106 funding and thus ensure that the increasing demand for school places could be met;

(vii)        The Committee noted that, in light of the work now being undertaken by the Authority to update its policy relating to section 106 developer contributions, it would not currently be appropriate for a letter to be sent to district councils highlighting the concerns raised regarding the need for educational provision to be made in relation to new developments, as it had requested at its last meeting;

(viii)      The Committee noted that following its last meeting the Department for Education (DfE) had made a number of decisions which supported the progress of arrangements for schools in special measures to be converted into sponsored academies.  The Committee had previously expressed concerns about the impact delays at DfE level were having on such arrangements and had requested that a letter be sent to the DfE supporting the comments previously made by the Director and Lead Member on this issue.  The Director had notified senior officers at the DfE of the concerns raised, but the Committee acknowledged that, in the circumstances, it was no longer necessary for the proposed letter to be sent;

(ix)         There was sometimes conflict between the availability of school places in a particular area and parental choice.  The Strategy aimed to mitigate the negative impact that expanding popular schools could have on other schools holding a surplus.  The Authority would work with those schools to ensure they remained viable in the short term, as in the long term the loss of any school would be a disadvantage to parents and pupils and reduce choice;

(x)          Surplus places impacted on the County Council’s ability to seek section 106 planning contributions to support the expansion of popular schools or the construction of new schools.  The Authority through the Strategy aimed to remove surplus capacity out of the system and ensure that school places were available in the right place at the right time;

(xi)         Age range changes made by schools would need to be well thought through and the Authority would seek to work with schools to provide a balanced view across the locality to ensure the impact of such changes did not adversely affect the long term sustainability of other schools in the area;

(xii)        It was highlighted that some successful schools did not always have the land capacity to allow them to be extended;

(xiii)      Some members expressed concern that some schools had extended through the use of mobile class rooms.  These were not intended as a long term solution, but some remained in situ for considerable periods.  The Committee noted that the Basic Needs Capital funding had been made available to support the creation of additional school places and could not therefore be used to replace pre-existing mobile classrooms;

(xiv)      The Authority’s school maintenance fund (£4.2m) supported the work required to carry out priority 1 issues on maintained schools which, if not dealt with, might result in a school being closed.  It was not the purpose of this funding to support any extension proposals;

(xv)        Although not a requirement, the Committee supported the need for a Strategy to ensure partners had a clear understanding of the County Council’s position and priorities.  The Committee also supported the key priorities which had been identified;

(xvi)      In relation to the wording of the Strategy document itself, the following specific points were made:

·         The document should be made shorter, avoiding duplication where possible;

·         Use of corporate language should be removed where possible to ensure it was easier for partners and the public to follow;

·         The planning timescales set out in paragraph 35.2 should be made clearer by identifying the year in which this work would start;

·         In paragraph 3.8 it should be made clearer that section 106 funding and the infrastructure levy were not two separate funding streams;

·         The final sentence of paragraph 3.9 should state “We will ‘continue to’ ensure…”;

·         Some of the figures contained in paragraph 44.8, in particular those identified for Blaby, should be re-checked to ensure they reflect the latest position.  The Authority had worked closely with district councils which had provided the proposed housing growth details, but it was acknowledged these would need to be refreshed before the Strategy was finalised; 

·         It was suggested that, with reference to paragraph 44.8, through discussions with district councils consideration should be given to the overall impact of smaller developments which were not necessarily identified in their core strategies.

RESOLVED:

(a)  That the contents of the report be noted;

(b)  That the draft Strategy including the Key Priorities identified be supported, subject to the comments now made.