Agenda item

The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Children and Family Services which detailed the results of the first stage of the consultation on the proposed removal of the residential facilities at the Maplewell Hall Special School with effect from September 2018 and sought approval to publish a Statutory Proposal and Notice as the next step in the process. A copy of the report, marked ‘4’, is filed with these minutes.

 

The Cabinet noted comments from the local member, Mrs Taylor CC, Mr Osborne CC and Mr Welsh CC along with representations from several members of the public. Copies of each are filed with these minutes.

 

With the agreement of the Leader, Mrs Taylor CC and Mr Osborne CC addressed the Cabinet.

 

The Chairman invited Mrs Taylor CC to speak.

 

In addressing the Cabinet, Mrs Taylor stated that whilst she understood the County Council had limited budgets and was required to make difficult decisions, it was important for the Authority to support vulnerable children to become independent, as this would reduce demand in later life for Adult Social Care services.

 

Mrs Taylor CC expressed concern about the lack of detail in the report concerning the additional transport and other costs that would be incurred as a result of the potential closure of the residential facilities and how much of the £293,000 of Council funding allocated to the school was spent on the overnight provision as opposed to its after school activities.

 

Mrs Taylor CC felt that there had been limited discussion between the County Council and the School about the residential provision and stressed that more work was needed to explore whether the facility could be maintained, possibly with reduced funding.

 

Mrs Taylor CC highlighted that the school had been rated ‘outstanding’ by OFSTED in September 2016 and she believed the removal of the residential facility would have a negative effect on those children who currently had access to the provision.

 

Mrs Taylor CC did not support the proposals to close the residential facility at Maplewell Hall School.

 

The Chairman invited Mr Osborne CC to speak

 

Mr Osborne CC stated that as an ex-Chairman and Governor of Maplewell Hall School he disagreed with the proposed closure of the residential facility. He highlighted that the County Council had received considerable response to the consultation and an unprecedented number had signed a petition against the proposals. He added that the County Council should be supporting these children and urged the Cabinet to withdraw its proposal to close the facility.

 

In presenting the report the Director of Children and Family Services highlighted that the County Council’s High Needs Block (HNB) was facing a significant overspend in the current financial year despite additional funding having already been allocated following a £2 million overspend in the previous year. He explained that it was important that the Authority fairly allocated HNB funding based on assessed need as identified in student’s Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCP).

 

The Director confirmed that all children at Maplewell Hall School have a EHCP, but no plans have identified the need for residential educational provision.

 

In response to concerns about the additional transport costs arising from a potential closure of the overnight provision, the Director confirmed that such additional costs would be minimal, based on the expectation that new arrangements would have to be funded for 69 children who currently have used the residential facility.

 

Mr Ould CC said that the proposal to close the residential provision at Maplewell Hall School was not an easy decision to make but the Council was required to make tough choices in order to address its increasing overspend within the HNB budget. He added that he was confident that the school, like many other special schools in the County, would still be able to continue to promote its student’s advancement and personal achievement through its after school activities.

 

Mr Ould CC reminded members that the Cabinet was not being asked to take a decision to close the school’s residential facility at this point, but to begin a formal consultation period on the proposed closure. He added that the County Council would debate the issue at its meeting in December.

 

Mr Rhodes CC said that the benefit of the residential provision at Maplewell Hall School was not in question, however the Authority had to think very carefully how it allocated its dwindling resources in a time of reduced budgets and in a budget area which is overspent.

 

RESOLVED:

 

a)    That the online and written responses received to the first stage of consultation including an e-petition and a paper petition with a total of 11,592 signatures, 31% from Leicestershire, 18% from Leicester and 51% from outside, be noted;

 

b)    That approval be given to proceed with the proposal to remove (close) the residential facilities at Maplewell Hall School with effect from September 2018;

 

c)    That it be noted that the removal of the residential provision, if progressed, is not expected to have an adverse impact on the afterschool activities provided by Maplewell Hall School and that, subject to the outcome of further audit work, officers will work with the school to ensure the continuance of the afterschool activities;

 

d)    That the publication of a Statutory Notice in early January 2018 supported by a statutory proposal as the next step to progress the removal (closure) of the residential provision be approved, and it be noted that this will be followed by a four-week ‘representation period’, during which further comment on the proposals can be made;

 

e)    That the use of the Council’s High Needs Block budget and the increasing pressures on it be noted;

 

f)     That a further report be submitted to the Cabinet on 9th March 2018, after the representation period, to enable a final decision to be taken on the implementation or otherwise, of the closure of the residential facilities;

 

g)    That in light of the petition having over 10,000 signatures, the decision of the Cabinet be reported to the Council on 6th December to enable the Council to debate the issue.

 

(KEY DECISION)

 

REASONS FOR DECISION

 

1.    There had been a significant response to the consultation. The over-riding majority of the reasons put forward by respondents to keep the residential facilities open were not considered to relate directly to an educational need. For example, many referred to use of the facilities as respite care provision.

 

2.    The removal of the residential funding would not have an adverse impact on the afterschool activities that precede overnight stays for pupils, as these are operated separately by the school.

 

3.    There are no pupils placed at Maplewell Hall who are assessed as having a need for educational residential provision stated in their Education Health and Care Plans (EHCP).

 

4.    No other school in the County catering for pupils with special educational needs including those educating children with profound and multiple difficulties has been provided with funding which is being used for a residential element.

 

5.    The Council’s High Needs Block (HNB) budget is provided solely for the purpose of providing education for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Therefore this budget should not be used to fund children’s social care needs including respite care or short breaks.

 

6.    There is significant pressure on the HNB budget. The closure of the residential facilities would allow savings to be made and funding to be directed to other areas of increased demand and greater priority as appropriate, recognising the range of pupils with SEND across the County.

 

7.    The closure of the residential facilities in September 2018 will allow for appropriate support to be put in place (where assessed to be required) for families/pupils affected by the change.

 

8.    The publication of the Statutory Notice is in keeping with Council’s legal obligations as set out in the School Organisation (Prescribed Alterations to Maintained Schools) (England) Regulations 2013.

 

9.      The Council’s Constitution provides that petitions with over 10,000 signatures are debated by full Council.  The decision on the removal of the residential facility is a matter for the Council’s Executive - the Cabinet - which must take the final decision.