Archived decisions

AT A MEETING of the EASTLEIGH/WINCHESTER SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS - MEMBERS PANEL held at The Castle, Winchester on Tuesday 11 December 2001.

PRESENT:

Councillors: M.F. Cartwright (Chairman); B.D. Dash; J.K. Glen; Jo Kelly; Mrs P.G. Peskett; Mrs E.M.F. Randall; J.W. Stocks.

Also in attendance: Councillors D.G. Allen; Mrs A.E. Bailey; Mrs P. Dickens; P.R. Brown.

3 MINUTES

The Minutes of the Panel meeting held on Wednesday 3 October 2001 were confirmed as a correct record.

Arising thereon:

Minute No. 1 - Eastleigh and Winchester Learning Difficulties Reorganisation

The County Education Officer updated the Panel on consultations which had been undertaken on the possible closure of Tankerville School in July 2002. A report to the Executive Member for Education would be submitted in January 2002 and the view of the SEN forum would be sought at its meeting on 11 December. The Panel were also advised that the Early Years Centres for Winchester and Eastleigh would more than likely open in the calendar year 2004 because of planning and other related agreements necessary to proceed with the scheme. The County Education Officer also updated the Panel on the current staffing situation.

4 DEPUTATIONS

The Panel received deputations from the following:

· Oliver's Battery Primary School


· St. Bede School Nursery


· Medecroft Development Group


Each deputation set out its reasons for objecting to the preferred option of the Oliver's Battery School site for the development of the Early Years Centre in Winchester whilst, at the same time, appreciating the need for this development to proceed as soon as practicable. (Minute No. 5 below refers).

5 WINCHESTER EARLY YEARS CENTRE

The Panel considered a report of the County Education Officer and Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services (Item 3 in the Minute Book) detailing feasibility studies on a site for the Winchester Early Years Centre. Members were informed that the development of part of the Oliver's Battery School site was proposed after no feasible alternative sites in County Council ownership had been identified closer to the centre of Winchester.

Mrs A.E. Bailey and Mrs P. Dickens, as local Members, set out their concerns about the preferred option of the Oliver's Battery School site for the development of the Early Years Centre.

During detailed discussion Panel Members raised a number of individual points on the feasibility studies and in particular raised concerns regarding the suitability of the Oliver's Battery location. The Panel's main concerns centred on traffic congestion and general accessibility. The Panel asked that the Executive Member for Education defer making a decision on the proposed Early Years Centre to enable officers to carry out further evaluation of the options for the proposed Early Years Centre and to explore the feasibility of the City Centre sites which Winchester City Council might offer for sale.

The County Education Officer reported that a bid had been made to the DfES (Department for Education and Skills) by the County Council for the Early Years Centre to be designated an Early Excellence Centre. It was noted that the bid was under consideration by HMI (Her Majesty's Inspectorate) and that a successful outcome to the bid would provide capital funding for accommodation additional to that needed to progress the core scheme to which the County Council was committed. It was noted that HMI had set timescales for funding approval and the Panel asked officers to check the timescales in view of the deferment of the item.

RESOLVED:

That the Panel advise the Executive Member for Education:

(i) That a decision on the proposed Early Years Development Centre be deferred.


(ii) That officers carry out further evaluation of the options for the proposed Early Years Centre and as a matter of urgency explore the feasibility of City Centre sites which Winchester City Council might offer for sale.


(iii) That a further report be brought back to the Panel by the middle of February 2002.

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