Reasons for urgency were noted and approved.

DECISION:

1.    To authorise the Director of Integrated Growth and Development following consultation with the Mayor to enter into a lease with the developer of South Quays to the value set out within the ‘Heads of Terms’ presented in Confidential Appendix 1 to the report, to ensure sufficient places for pupils with additional needs from September 2023.

2.    To agree the ‘Heads of Terms’, in Confidential Appendix 1 to the report, to enable the lease to be signed.

ACTION BY:

CORPORATE DIRECTOR CHILDREN AND CULTURE (J. THOMAS)

Service head (Pupil Access and School Sufficiency) (T. Bryan)

Reasons for urgency were noted and approved as set out in the report.

The Lisa Fraser, (Director of Education) and Terry Bryan, (Service Head (Pupil Access and School Sufficiency) introduced the report that, following a decision by the Department for Education (DfE) to close South Quay College Alternative Provision Free School proposed ways to meet the need to provide for the shortfall of specialist pupil places that will arise in the East of the borough.

Further to questions from the Cabinet, Terry explained a report would be brought to the Mayor in Cabinet in Autumn 2023 to set out projections for mainstream and SEN education demand and how the Council will plan to ensure that demand can be met.  

Lisa summarised the outcome to date of meetings held between the Council and DfE on the proposals in paragraph 9 of the report regarding the opening of a new Alternative Provision Free School. Lisa explained there was no agreed defined timeframe for the proposal.

The Mayor and Cabinet welcomed the report. They noted that the college worked with some of the most challenged pupils in the borough to help deliver the Council’s ambition for educational excellence. The Mayor asked that recommendation 1 from the report be amended to include consultation with himself prior to the officer decision.

RESOLVED that the Mayor in Cabinet:

1. Authorises the Director of Integrated Growth and Development following consultation with the Mayor to enter into a lease with the developer of South Quays to the value set out within the ‘Heads of Terms’ presented in Confidential Appendix 1 to the report, to ensure sufficient places for pupils with additional needs from September 2023.

2. Agrees the ‘Heads of Terms’, in Confidential Appendix 1 to the report, to enable the lease to be signed.