Agenda and minutes

Lead Member for Education and Inclusion, Special Educational Needs and Disability - Monday, 23rd December, 2019 10.00 am

Venue: Council Chamber, County Hall, Lewes. View directions

Contact: Aaron Sams 01273 335274

Items
No.	Item
22.	Decisions made by the Lead Cabinet Member on 4 November 2019 PDF 73 KB Minutes: 22.1 The Lead Member approved as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 4 November 2019.
23.	Reports Minutes: 23.1 Copies of the reports referred to below are included in the minute book.
24.	Proposed Closure of Broad Oak Community Primary School PDF 461 KB Report by Director of Children’s Services Additional documents: Item 4 - Appendix 1 , item 24. PDF 780 KB Item 4 - Appendix 2 , item 24. PDF 360 KB Item 4 - Appendix 3 , item 24. PDF 752 KB Item 4 - Appendix 4 , item 24. PDF 370 KB Item 4 - Appendix 5 , item 24. PDF 441 KB Item 4 - Appendix 6 , item 24. PDF 340 KB Minutes: 24.1 The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Children’s Services, together with consultation responses, including those received after the closing date, regarding the outcome of the consultation on the proposed closure of Broad Oak Community Primary School and the recommendation of next steps. 24.2 The Lead Member RESOLVED – to approve the publication of a statutory proposal for the closure of Broad Oak Community Primary School on 31 August 2020 Reason 24.3 While recognising the level and nature of objection to the proposal, the case for the closure of Broad Oak continues to be strong. The challenge of the school’s deficit budget remains and will be made worse by the reduction in pupil numbers at the school since the consultation was launched. The situation of significant surplus places in the Heathfield area, and at the school in particular, remains. No solutions or actions have been identified in the consultation process to address these critical issues.
25.	Proposed Closure of Fletching CE Primary School PDF 510 KB Report by Director of Children’s Services Additional documents: Item 5 - Appendix 1 , item 25. PDF 779 KB Item 5 - Appendix 2 , item 25. PDF 1 MB Item 5 - Appendix 3 , item 25. PDF 800 KB Item 5 - Appendix 4 , item 25. PDF 370 KB Item 5 - Appendix 5 , item 25. PDF 467 KB Item 5 - Appendix 6 , item 25. PDF 411 KB Minutes: 25.1 The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Children’s Services, together with consultation responses, including those received after the closing date, regarding the outcome of the consultation on the proposed closure of Fletching CE Primary School and the recommendation of next steps. 25.2 The Lead Member RESOLVED – to halt the consultation on the proposed closure of Fletching CE Primary School and for the school to remain open. Reason 25.3 The consultation responses overwhelmingly object to the proposed closure; there is a clear strength of feeling that the impact on current pupils and the local community would be significant. Substantial fundraising has been undertaken by the community which largely addresses the school’s predicated budget deficit in 2019/20 and 2020/21. Pupil numbers at the school have largely been maintained despite the consultation and governors believe that pupil numbers will begin to increase in the coming years as a result of house building in the area, notably in Uckfield. 25.4 The local authority however, remains of the view that the school continues to be vulnerable and its budget deficit has only been addressed on a short-term basis through one-off funding and therefore concern remains about the lack of any ongoing committed funding to support the school beyond next financial year. The current forecasts for the school do not suggest it will attract many more pupils from out of area than it has in the past and in-area demand for places remains low. Despite these factors, and taking into consideration the improved short term budget position, the Lead Member is recommended to halt the consultation on the closure and the school remain open.