Issue - meetings

An Exempt Appendix is contained within the Exempt Appendices Section of this Agenda.

(i)         to note the update in the planner relating to the School Estate which states that officers intend bringing a report to the Council meeting in March outlining the process and timeline for delivering the School Estate Strategy;

(ii)       to note the ongoing works that may be required to allow pupils to return to school, works currently ongoing to develop a community campus model); the impact the pandemic has had on the provision of education, ,noting officers are waiting to determine if Scottish Government guidance will be provided on how education will be delivered in the future and how a school estate may look in light of this guidance;

(iii)      to agree taking into consideration (ii) above, the extension for Bucksburn Academy should not progress at this time and agrees not to refer this project to the Council’s Budget Meeting in March 2021;

(iv)       to instruct the Chief Officer – Corporate Landlord to review expected short-term school role forecasts at Bucksburn Academy and consider options to meet current projections in the short term, reporting any financial requirements for this as part of the budget process, if required;

(v)      that officers circulate details relating to the impact of Scottish Government planned free transport for U18s; and

(vi)      that officers circulate details relating to the re-zoning numbers for Kingswells school to Councillor Boulton.

With reference to article 9 of the minute of meeting of the Education Operational Delivery Committee of 20 January 2021, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Resources which sought approval of the preferred design option and referral to the budget process for the funding required for the preferred design option to progress to detailed design development (RIBA stage 4).

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)      approve the preferred design option within the Outline Business Case;

(b)      note the overall funding of £1.5m required to progress to the detailed development stage of this project;

(c)      refer this project to the Council’s Budget Meeting in March 2021; and

(d)      instruct Officers to report back to a future meeting of the City Growth and Resources Committee with the Full Business Case

The Convener, seconded by the Vice Convener, moved:-

           that the Committee –

(1)     note the update in the planner relating to the School Estate which states that officers intend bringing a report to Council meeting in March outlining the process and timeline for delivering the School Estate Strategy;

(2)    note the ongoing works that may be required to allow pupils to return to school, works currently ongoing to develop a community campus model); the impact the pandemic has had on the provision of education, ,noting officers are waiting to determine if Scottish Government guidance will be provided on how education will be delivered in the future and how a school estate may look in light of this guidance;

(3)    agree taking into consideration (2) above, the extension for Bucksburn Academy should not progress at this time and agrees not to refer this project to the Council’s Budget Meeting in March 2021; and

(4)     instruct the Chief Officer – Corporate Landlord to review expected short-term school role forecasts at Bucksburn Academy and consider options to meet current projections in the short term, reporting any financial requirements for this as part of the budget process, if required.

Councillor McRae, seconded by Councillor Yuill moved as an amendment:-

           that the Committee approve the recommendations contained within the report.

On a division, there voted:- for the motion – (5) the Convener, the Vice Convener, Councillors Boulton, Houghton and Laing; for the amendment – (4) Councillors Cooke, McRae, Nicoll and Yuill.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       to adopt the motion;

(ii)       that officers circulate details to the Convener relating to the impact of Scottish Government planned free transport for U18s; and

(iii)      that officers circulate details relating to the re-zoning numbers for Kingswells school to Councillor Boulton.