Agenda item

The Committee had before it a report by the Executive Director Families and Communities which presented the 2024 annual update to the School Estate Plan, provided updates on progress with implementation of the Plan, and highlighted new priorities which had emerged since the School Estate Plan was first approved in September 2022.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)      note the updates to the School Estate Plan which were provided at Appendix A of the report;

(b)      instruct the Chief Officer – Corporate Landlord to continue to implement the School Estate Plan in accordance with the updated timeline, presented within Appendix A of the report;

(c)      instruct the Chief Officer – Corporate Landlord to carry out a review of spaces currently available within schools for supporting pupils with additional support needs, and in consultation with the Chief Officer – Education and Lifelong Learning, to report back to the Committee with recommendations for improving such spaces where this was required; and

(d)      agree the intended scope of the proposed asset review in Northfield to include all public assets and instruct the Chief Officer Corporate Landlord to proceed with this review and to commence engagement with all partners working in the wider Northfield area.

The Convener, seconded by Councillor Clark, moved:-

That the Committee:-

(a)      agree recommendations 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 and replace 2.4 as follows:

·       agree that the aim and priority of the asset review in Northfield was to invest in the area and enhance community and learning provision locally and there would be no detrimental impact on services;

·       note that the Community Campus Model, approved by Committee in November 2021 was a community-based education model that ensured improved learning environments and opportunities for our children and young people;

·       note that the Family Support Model, approved by Committee in July 2024, aimed to empower residents, build trust and consistent relationships through support that was flexible and responsive to local needs;

·       agree that the Northfield Community asset review would encompass the principles of both the Community Campus Model and the Family Support Model to deliver services for our children and families in line with our commitment to drive targeted improvement in our SIMD1 quintiles;

·       agree that new purpose-built learning environments in Northfield would represent an appropriate opportunity to meet the inclusion needs of primary and secondary pupils;

·       agree the intended scope of the proposed asset review in Northfield to include all public assets, and instruct the Chief Officer – Corporate Landlord to proceed with the review and to commence engagement with all partners working in the wider Northfield area;

·       instruct the Chief Officer – Education and Lifelong Learning to work closely with the Northfield community throughout this process to ensure community empowerment and resilience was prioritised in all stages of planning; and

·       instruct the Chief Officer - Education and Lifelong Learning to work with the Northfield Advisory Group to invite and support their guidance in shaping improvements and outcomes.

Councillor Blake, seconded by Councillor Grant, moved as an amendment:-

That the Committee:-

(a)      note the updates to the School Estate Plan which were provided at Appendix A of the report;

(b)      instruct the Chief Officer – Corporate Landlord to continue to implement the School Estate Plan in accordance with the updated timeline, presented within Appendix A of the report, as amended;

(c)      instruct the Chief Officer – Corporate Landlord to carry out a review of spaces currently available within schools for supporting pupils with additional support needs, and in consultation with the Chief Officer – Education and Lifelong Learning, to report back to the Committee with recommendations for improving such spaces where this was required;

(d)      note that the Northfield primary school feasibility study consultation closed in June 2023. Parents and guardians had been waiting for over a year and the revised timeline meant that the earliest any decisions would be made was September 2025 with the budget decision in March 2027;

(e)      note that the published School Roll forecast was out of date, dated from 2020 and had not been updated due to the unpredictability of the Aberdeen city school roll. There had been a 10% increase in the roll since the forecast was published and it was anticipated that there would be continued fluctuations due to global events;

(f)       agree that it was unacceptable for parents and guardians of Northfield ASG primary school children to have continued uncertainty and delay and instruct the Chief Officer – Corporate Landlord to cease work on the primary school feasibility study (N2); and

(g)      as per the instruction from Education and Children’s Services Committee on 20 February 2024:

2.1.1     instruct the Chief Officer – Corporate Landlord to carry out a detailed options appraisal for the long term future of Northfield Academy, with a view to providing a solution to address the presence of RAAC within the building

2.1.2     agree that there will be active engagement with the local community and young people;

(h)      instruct the Chief Officer – Corporate Landlord to bring a report to the Education and Children’s Services Committee in February 2025.

On a division, there voted:- for the motion (9) – the Convener; the Vice Convener; Councillors Allard, Clark, Delaney, MacGregor, McLellan and Radley; and Ms Barclay; for the amendment (6) – Councillors Blake, Brooks, Grant, McLeod and Mrs Stewart; and Ms Munro; declined to vote (2) – Mr Haywood and Mr Murray; absent from the division (3) – Dr Murray, Mr Regmi and Mrs Smith.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       to note that the Executive Director had suggested that the report due to be presented to the Communities, Housing and Public Protection Committee in November on a detailed phased Implementation Plan reflecting plans for internal zoning of the Central Library and testing of the Library and Information Service as an integral part of the emerging model of Family Support which would incorporate plans for ongoing engagement with communities and groups could also be presented to the November meeting of this Committee if it was felt this would be beneficial; and

(ii)       to adopt the motion.

At this juncture, Councillor Grant intimated that he wished to refer the matter to Council, under Standing Order 34.1.  He was supported in this regard by Councillors Blake, Brooks, McLeod and Mrs Stewart, and Mr Haywood and Ms Munro.  The Convener advised that he was exercising his right under Standing Order 34.1 to determine that the matter would not be referred.  Councillor Grant advised that he wished to record his dissent with this decision.