AT A MEETING of the SCHOOL ORGANISATION COMMITTEE held at Falcon House, Romsey Road, Winchester on Tuesday 10 September, 2002

PRESENT:

Hampshire County Council

Councillors: Don Allen

Michael Cartwright

Raymond Ellis

Mrs Edith Randall

Church of England

Richard Lindley (Chairman)

Canon David Isaac

Rob Wood

Roman Catholic Church

Mrs Virginia Roberts

Mrs Urszula Topp

School Governors

Claude Bamber

Rev. John Buxton

Alan Fender

Tom Wickstead

Apologies:

Alex Young - Church of England

62 RESIGNATIONS AND RETIREMENTS


63 The Committee noted, following the 3 yearly review of the Committee Membership, that Mrs Pat Horne of the Church of England Group and Barry Wright of the Roman Catholic Church Group had resigned as members of the Committee and that their places had been taken, respectively by Rob Wood and Mrs Urszula Topp. The Committee also noted that this would be the last meeting which Claude Bamber of the Governors Group would attend. Members also noted that Martin Woodcock, until recently the legal adviser to the Committee, had now retired after a long career in local government. The Committee placed on record its appreciation of their invaluable contribution to its work.


64 MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting held on 9 April, 2002 were confirmed as a correct record, subject to the undermentioned and signed by the Chairman.

Matters arising thereon:-

Minute 56 Kings School, Winchester - Enlargement and Minute 59 Bridgemary School, Gosport - Enlargement

The Secretary advised that, under the Education (School Organisation Proposals) (England) Regulations 1999, the SOC is able to set a condition on an approval, but must specify a date by which the condition must be met. The Local Education Authority suggested that as both projects were in the 2002/03 Capital Programme the date of 31 March 2003 should be given for the conditional approvals. Accordingly the minutes were confirmed as a correct record subject to the insertion of the words "before 31 March 2003" in the text and resolution respectively.


65 DEPUTATIONS

The Committee received an oral deputation from Mrs B. Hatch on behalf of Wickham Parish Council on the position of the settlement of Whiteley in the School Organisation Plan. In addition, the Chairman read to members a statement by the Chairman of the Pennington Junior School Governing Body, sent in lieu of an oral deputation, objecting to the proposal to enlarge Lymington Junior School on the grounds of the perceived deleterious effect that this would have on his school.



66 SCHOOL ORGANISATION PLAN 2002/03 - 2006/07

The Committee gave consideration to the published draft School Organisation Plan, together with the 5 objections received within the statutory period for objections; copies of the objections and the written responses of the Local Education Authority to each are combined to form Item 3 in the Minute Book. The County Education Officer amplified his written responses and answered questions from members. During the course of the ensuing discussion, he noted a number of general points aimed at clarification for incorporation, as appropriate, into the following year's version of the Plan.

Members adjourned in their respective groups to consider the proposals in the light of the Local Education Authority's response to the objections.

All groups voted in favour of the Plan as submitted.

RESOLVED:

That the School Organisation Plan for 2002/03 - 2006/07 incorporating the Local Education Authority's amendments, be approved.


67 LYMINGTON JUNIOR SCHOOL - ENLARGEMENT

The Committee gave consideration to the statement of case of the County Education Officer for a proposed alteration to Lymington Junior School, Lymington, by enlarging the premises of the school, with effect from 1 September 2003 (Item 4 in the Minute Book). Consideration was also given to the objection to the proposals by the Governing Body of the Pennington CE Junior School.

Members adjourned in their respective groups to consider the proposal.

All groups voted for a prescribed alteration to Lymington Junior School by enlarging the premises of the School, in accordance with the details set out by the County Education Officer.

RESOLVED:

That the proposal for a prescribed alteration to Lymington Junior School, Lymington by enlarging the premises of the School with effect from 1 September 2003, be approved.


68 APPLICATIONS FOR REDUCTIONS IN THE STANDARD NUMBER FOR ADMISSIONS

The County Education Officer presented the Local Education Authority's cases for reductions in the standard numbers for admissions at a number of schools (Item 5 in the Minute Book).

It was noted that no statutory objections had been received following publication of notices.

All groups voted to reduce the standard numbers at the schools as identified.

RESOLVED:

That the proposal for reductions in the standard number for admissions at the following schools in the school year 2003/04 be approved in accordance with the details set out in the report:-

School Existing Proposed

(a) Bransgore Church of England Primary School 47 45

(b) Calmore Infant School, Totton 94 90

(c) Cupernham Junior School, Romsey 91 90

(d) Langrish Primary School 27/5 30/0

(e) Mengham Junior School, Hayling Island 80 60

(f) Mengham Infant School, Hayling Island 85 60

(g) North Baddesley Infant School 78 70

(h) Pennington Church of England Junior School 70 52

(i) Ranvilles Infant School, Fareham 89 60

(j) Riders Junior School, Havant 75 60

(k) Sun Hill Junior School, New Alresford 86 66

(l) Wildground Infant School, Dibden Purlieu 80 60

(m) Staunton Park School, Havant 197 180


69 DATES OF MEETINGS IN 2003

The Committee noted the dates, times and venues of meetings in 2003 as follows:-


· Tuesday, 8 April, 2003 at 2.15 p.m. (Conference Room, Ashburton Court, The Castle, Winchester)

· Tuesday, 9 September, 2003 at 2.15 p.m. (Falcon House, Winchester)

· Tuesday, 16 December, 2003 at 2.15 p.m. (Conference Room, Ashburton Court, The Castle, Winchester).

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