AT A MEETING of the SCHOOL ORGANISATION COMMITTEE held at Falcon House, Romsey Road, Winchester on Tuesday, 11 September 2001.

PRESENT:

Hampshire County Council

Councillors:

Don Allen

Michael Cartwright

Brian Dash

Raymond Ellis

Jo Kelly

Edith Randall

Dr John Wall

Church of England

Richard Lindley (Chairman)

Brian Hay

Alex Young

Roman Catholic Church

Mrs. Sheila Allen

Mrs. Veronica Roberts

School Governors

Dr. Claude Bamber

Rev. John Buxton

Tom Wickstead (Vice-Chairman)

Apologies

Geoffrey Newsome - School Governors

Mrs Sylvia Vine - School Governors

Major Steven Pope - School Governors

Simon Tong - Church of England

Pat Horne - Church of England

Mr. Barry Wright - Roman Catholic Church

Stephanie Quant - Learning and Skills Council - Hampshire and Isle of Wight

42. MINUTES

The Minutes of the Committee held on Wednesday, 4 April 2001 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

43. DEPUTATIONS

None.

44. SCHOOL ORGANISATION PLAN 2001/02 - 2005/06

The Secretary presented the draft School Organisation Plan covering the period 2001/02 - 2005/06 (Item 3 in the Minute Book). The County Education Officer outlined the plan and set out how Hampshire County Council intended to match the supply and demand for school places over the five year period.

Following publication of the plan, one formal objection had been received from Eastleigh Borough Council on the grounds that the plan did not provide the right quantity or disposition of school places for Borough residents. Specifically the Borough Council considered that there were insufficient primary school places in northern Hedge End, with Berrywood Primary School in particular, being over subscribed. A planning application had recently been received by the Borough Council for over 200 houses at Botleigh Grange, close to Berrywood, and it was considered that if the application was approved the capacity problem would be further exacerbated.

The County Education Officer did not accept that Berrywood Primary School was "oversubscribed" in the terms given by Eastleigh Borough Council, although it was accepted that the school did have more pupils than its MOE capacity. The capacity was based on class sizes of 30. The County Education Officer also confirmed that he was aware of the proposed housing development at Botleigh Grange. It was explained that forecasts for the area did not include the proposed housing development because the Borough Council had not published its rolled forward Local Plan. The planning forecasts would, however, be amended if Planning Permission was granted.

In summary, however, the County Education Officer did not feel at the date of the meeting that the matters raised by the Borough Council called for specific amendments to the plan and recommended that the plan be approved as set out. It was noted that a meeting between appropriate County and District Members was in the process of being arranged. The Committee noted that the Local Education Authority was conscious of the likelihood of future development in the Hedge End/West End area and that this would be incorporated in the next roll forward plan.


The County Education Officer also reported that, following publication of the plan, a number of other responses had been received and these were summarised in a Schedule. Two of the responses (from Havant Borough Council and Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council) suggested amendments to the text of the plan in order to update references to their local plans. These were welcomed and revised pages 37/38 and 47 were included in the paperwork. The County Education Officer also took the opportunity to revise the layout of page 29 so that the legend on the graph was clearer to the reader. Subject to these minor amendments, the plan was submitted for approval by the Committee.

In response to a query about standard numbers, the County Education Officer reported that he had received a consultation document from the DfES outlining proposals to replace standard numbers with a new capacity assessment formula. In view of the fundamental nature of this proposal, it was suggested that the County Education Officer make a presentation at a future meeting

The Committee also queried the formal agreement with Dorset County Council for the provision of school places for children living in the New Forest area. The County Education Officer confirmed that discussions were taking place with Dorset County Council and that, following an annual review, further information would be submitted to the Committee.

Members adjourned in their respective groups to consider the plan.

All groups approved the School Organisation Plan subject to the Local Education Authority's amendments.

RESOLVED:

That the School Organisation Plan for 2001/02 - 2005/06 incorporating the Local Education Authority's amendments, be approved.

45. PROPOSED SCHOOL FOR BOYS WITH EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIOURAL DIFFICULTIES IN THE PREMISES OF SUNDRIDGE PUPIL REFERRAL UNIT

The County Education Officer reported that further to the publication of Notices on 2 February 2001, detailed consultations had taken place with the temporary governing body of the school, regarding the implementation of the proposal. As a result of this, the governing body had requested that the implementation date be modified to 1 January 2002. This was to enable proper time for the appointment of a headteacher and other staff to take place in advance of implementation. The Local Education Authority agreed with this request.

Members adjourned in their respective groups to consider the modifications.

All groups voted that the implementation date be modified to 1 January 2002.

RESOLVED:

That the implementation date be modified to 1 January 2002.

46. THE WATERLOO SCHOOL: PROPOSED CLOSURE OF BOARDING HOUSE

The County Education Officer reported that no objections had been received to the Notices published on 2 April 2001 and that the Local Education Authority had determined to implement the proposal as set out in the notice.

RESOLVED:

That the action taken by the Local Education Authority be noted.

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