Contact: Karen Widdowson Tel: 01962 847334

email : [email protected]

1. Summary

The following decision is sought:

That planning consent be given until 31 December 2011 for a single temporary classroom at Sopley Primary School.

2. Reason

2.1 The Executive Lead Member for Children's Services (Education) on 23 January 2008 approved the 2008/09 to 2010/11 capital programme and recommended to the Executive Member (Policy and Resources) that planning consent be given until 31 December 2011 for a single temporary classroom at Sopley Primary School.

2.2 This school has four classrooms, one of which has been created by using an old cloaks area and is used by Year R pupils. The other three classrooms are 45m² and are large enough for only 27 pupils in each space. The ICT suite is 25m², which is too small to accommodate a full class of pupils and the school has an undersized hall of 60m². The number on roll at the school is currently 93 and forecasts show this to be sustained for the future.

2.3 A development plan has been produced which shows how the school could be extended in permanent accommodation and financial provision for this has been included in the proposed 2008/09 capital programme.

2.4 It is recommended that a single temporary classroom be placed on site to help alleviate the space pressure for the school, whist at the same time allowing the Year R space to be opened up as a multi-purpose area for use as a resource space, library and SEN area. This unit would remain on site until the permanent accommodation is provided.

2.5 This decision supports each of the corporate priorities by ensuring that pupils are adequately accommodated until permanent accommodation is made available.

3. Other Options considered and Rejected - Not to provide temporary accommodation - this is not feasible given the forecast number of pupils on roll.

4. Conflicts of interest declared by the decision maker or other Executive Member consulted None.

5. Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee None.

6. Reason(s) for the matter being dealt with if urgent Not applicable.

Approved by : ....................................... Date: 6 March 2008

Councillor T.K. Thornber, CBE