Issue - meetings

Cabinet considered a report by the Director of Education & Skills.

Cabinet approved the proposal to develop a full business case, to be taken through the County Council’s capital governance process, for the second phase of the project for opening additional Special Support Centres places attached to schools for opening in September 2020 and to bring forward any individual schemes under phase 3 of the SSC investment programme from 2021 to 2020, where it is possible to do so. All the individual specific schemes that are brought forward under phases 2 and 3 will be subject to their own approval process.

The call-in deadline is 12 December 2019

15.1   Cabinet considered a report by the Director of Education & Skills.

15.2   Mr Nigel Jupp, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, introduced the report.  He explained that this followed on from a previous decision that successfully implemented phase 1 of this project and that this proposal was to move forward into phases 2 and 3.  In the absence of Mr David Barling, Chairman of Children & Young People Services Select Committee, Mr Jupp confirmed that the Committee had previewed this decision and were supportive of the proposals.  Mr Jupp invite his Cabinet colleagues to support this decision.

15.3   Mr Michael Jones, Leader of the Labour Group, stated that he felt that the proposals made sense, but he asked for reassurance that the needs of the pupils be put ahead of cost savings.  He also raised concern about the suitability of modular buildings.

15.4   Cabinet Members spoke in support of the proposal commenting that reducing the time that children have to travel and educating them within their local communities will no doubt better their quality of life.  Mr Jupp confirmed that the modular buildings would have a long-life span and also meant less disruption within the schools during installation.  He also confirmed positive feedback had been received from the schools.

15.5   RESOLVED that Cabinet approve the proposal to develop a full business case, to be taken through the County Council’s capital governance process, for the second phase of the project for opening additional Special Support Centres (SSC) places attached to schools for opening in September 2020 and to bring forward any individual schemes under phase 3 of the SSC investment programme from 2021 to 2020, where it is possible to do so.  All the individual specific schemes that are brought forward under phases 2 and 3 will be subject to their own approval process.