Karen Widdowson 

Secretary to the School Organisaion Committee

Chief Executives

Elizabeth II Court

Peter Colenutt SC/PC/aug4pcgdh

01962 846157

02 September 2004 [email protected]

Dear Karen

Re: The Sundridge School, Cowplain - Enlargement and Transfer to New Site in Leigh Park

Reference is made to Minute 112 of the School Organisation Committee's meeting of 29 April 2004 in respect of the proposed new Sundridge School.

The committee were informed at the meeting on 29 April 2004 that whilst there had been no objections to the notices published on 26 January 2004 in respect of the new school, it was not possible for the LEA to make a formal determination. This was due to the fact that the planning permission for the new housing on the site had been delayed which is key to the funding strategy.

The purpose of this letter is to advise the committee that the position has not changed and request that the decision to give authority to implement the proposal be deferred until a future meeting of this committee following the determination of the planning applications. Meetings have taken place with Havant Borough Council's planning officers over the summer who are supportive of our applications. The delay has largely been caused by the recent publication of a planning inspector's report on Leigh Park.

I can confirm however, that since the formal consultation (June 2003) with parents, staff and other interested parties, consultation has continued to take place via the Leigh Park Creating Quality Places (CQP) exercise. The CQP process and enquiry by design organised by the borough council and supported by Hampshire County Council was set up to allow residents to express their views on the future of the Warren Park area within Leigh Park. Officers of the LEA attended one of the initial CQP workshops in July 2003 with local residents, members and officers of the borough council and other interested parties and presented the education strategy for delivering both the new EBD school and the education centre within the area. Following the July meeting work continued on developing the LEA strategy and this was presented to a CQP residents' panel on 11 December 2003. The presentation of the planning applications for the education facilities and housing by the LEA received unanimous support. This meeting was also attended by members and officers of the borough council as well as other interested parties.

A report on progress and a further presentation of the LEA strategy was made on 18 and 19 June 2004 as part of the ongoing CQP process. This now forms part of a summary document for the Warren Park area that has been produced by the borough council for local residents and other interested parties published in August 2004.

Throughout this period LEA officers have continued a dialogue with the headteacher and the chairman of governors to ensure that they are fully informed of these developments. Parents of the Sundridge School have been advised of the situation through communications from the school.

Whilst it is some time since the formal consultations, the local communities have been continually involved and kept up to date with the LEA's strategy via the CQP exercise. In view of this it would appear reasonable to defer the decision on the new school pending the outcome of our planning applications without the need for further formal consultation.

Yours sincerely

Peter Colenutt

Assistant Education Officer (School Review)

Cc: Keith Davis, Headteacher

Jack Carruthers, Chair of Governors

Robin Thomas, Acting Assistant County Education Officer, Inclusion Branch