Contact: Ian Lawson, Strategic Planning Officer; telephone 01962 846350; e-mail [email protected]

1 Summary

1.1 It is recommended that approval be given to the publication of the School Places Plan 2006, taking account of comments received in response to consultation on the draft plan.

1.2 This supports the aims the Corporate Strategy in the following ways:

Making Hampshire safer and more secure for all - by providing a framework in which facilities are provided within the communities they serve.

Maximising well-being - by securing access to schools, as far as practicable, in the localities where people live.

Enhancing our quality of place - by planning to secure the provision of schools where they are needed to serve changing demographic needs.

2 School Places Plan

2.1 Until 2003 it was a statutory requirement for local authorities to publish each year a School Organisation Plan (SOP). The last statutory plan was approved in December 2003 and subsequent non-statutory revisions were approved by the Executive Member in December 2004 and October 2005.

2.2 As well as being a position statement on policies guiding the provision of school places, the SOP has proved to be a valuable planning tool to respond to new developments and the need to review surplus places. Although the requirement to publish a SOP was superseded by the duty to publish a Children and Young People's Plan (CYPP), that plan does not contain the level of detail previously contained in the SOP. It is, therefore, considered prudent that an annual revision should be published, to take account of the latest data and projections.

2.3 A revised plan has been prepared, to cover the period 2005/06 to 2010/11 and the section on policies guiding decisions on school organisation has been revised to reduce duplication with the CYPP. To indicate that the new plan is distinct from the SOP, it is now entitled the School Places Plan (SPP).

3 Outcome of consultation

3.1 Copies of the draft 2006 SPP were sent in July to all county councillors, other members of the Children's Services Policy Review Committee and the School Organisation Committee, other county council departments, the Chief Executive and Director of Planning for each district and borough council in Hampshire, adjoining local authorities and organisations such as the local learning and skills council. The draft was also published on the County Council's web-site and communications sent to all headteachers and chairs of governors inviting comment. A closing date of 11 September was given for responses to be submitted.

3.2 Eight responses were received during the consultation period. Details are given in Appendix 1 to this report, along with suggested revisions where appropriate. The opportunity has also been taken to make a few minor corrections and to update the names of schools where changes have been made for the new school year.

3.3 The revised text of the plan is attached as Appendix 2. All changes made following consultation are shaded. If approved, the plan will be published on the County Council's web-site and copies distributed to those who received the draft. Copies will also be placed in public libraries and information centres. Copies will also be distributed to parish councils in Hampshire.

4 Corporate aims and objectives and the five outcomes

4.1 The link with the County Council's corporate aims is explained in the introduction to the plan.

4.2 The five outcomes specified in the Children Act are set out below, with a summary of how the plan contributes to their achievement:

· being healthy (enjoying good physical and mental health and living a healthy lifestyle) :- by considering options which will maximise opportunities for children to walk to school, thus increasing opportunities for exercise and reducing car dependence;

· staying safe (being protected from harm and neglect) :- by having access to a secure learning environment;

· enjoying and achieving (getting the most out of life and developing the skills for adulthood) :- by providing a high standard of education for children in suitable buildings, where possible within their own community;

· making a positive contribution (being involved with the community and society and not engaging in anti-social or offending behaviour) :- by safeguarding friendship and neighbourhood groups by allowing for primary education to be provided as close to pupils' homes as reasonably practicable;

· economic well-being (not being prevented by economic disadvantage from achieving their full potential in life) :- by ensuring that proposals will not disadvantage children and will protect equality of opportunity

5 Legal implications

5.1 None.

6 Financial implications

6.1 None.

7 Personnel implications

7.1 None.

8 Impact assessment

8.1 Race and equality impact assessment has been considered in the development of this report and no adverse impact has been identified.

9 Crime prevention issues

9.1 The County Council's legal obligation under Section 17 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 to consider the impact of all the decisions it makes on the prevention of crime has been borne in mind and no issues identified.

10 Views of the Local County Councillor

10.1 All county councillors were given the opportunity to comment on the draft. No responses were received.

Recommendations

That the School Places Plan 2006, as amended following consultation, be approved.

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background documents

The following documents discuss facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and have been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

NB: the list excludes

1. Published works

2. Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.

None