Agenda item

With reference to article 9 of the minute of its previous meeting of 20 February 2024, the Committee had before it a report by the Executive Director – Families and Communities which presented a Strategic Outline Case, which summarised the findings of the recent Northfield Area Asset Review, and included high level options for improving future primary and secondary education and potential consolidation of other assets in the Northfield area, to bring about improvements in the delivery of Council services to members of the Northfield community.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)      note the findings of the Northfield Area Asset Review as set out within the Strategic Outline Case at Appendix A of this report, and refer the document to the Finance and Resources Committee for approval;

(b)      instruct the Chief Officer – Corporate Landlord to develop an Outline Business Case, to present detailed options and costings for the creation of new community campus facilities to serve the Northfield Area, which would support the delivery of the Family Support Model in Northfield, allow for the reduction of excess school capacity, and provide opportunities for the consolidation of existing Council buildings in Northfield; and

(c)      instruct the Chief Officer – Corporate Landlord to submit the completed Outline Business Case for approval to the budget setting process for 2026/27.

The Convener, seconded by the Vice Convener, moved the recommendations as set out in the report.

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

That the Committee:-

(a)      notes the findings of the Northfield Area Asset Review as set out within the Strategic Outline Case at Appendix A of this report, and refers the document to the Finance and Resources Committee for approval or otherwise;

(b)      notes with concern that in terms of location for a suitable development, a number of sites in ACC ownership have been explored for a potential community campus solution, to include the existing Northfield Academy site and surrounding Cummings Park area, together with the development land at Greenferns Farm;

(c)      notes that each of the sites is likely to have planning restrictions and will require a strategy to mitigate the loss of green space and / or future housing allocation, therefore calls on the Chief Officer - Corporate Landlord to consider deliverability in the outline business case;

(d)      notes there is currently no budget allocation within the Council’s capital programme to support the construction of any new assets in Northfield. The identified options which involve new construction projects are therefore subject to the identification of appropriate funding sources to deliver them;

(e)      instructs the Chief Officer – Corporate Landlord to develop an Outline Business Case, to present detailed options and costs for the creation of new community campus facilities to serve the Northfield Area, which would support the delivery of the Family Support Model in Northfield, allow for the reduction of excess school capacity, and provide opportunities for the consolidation of existing Council buildings in Northfield subject to their being no detriment to children’s and young person’s education in Northfield and safe active travel routes to school being identified;

(f)       instructs the Chief Officer – Corporate Landlord to contact Mastrick, Summerhill and Sheddocksley Community Council to identify a suitable site for a men’s shed as part of any business case being brought forward;

(g)      instructs officers to consult with all Community Councils, Parent teacher Groups in the Northfield ASG prior to finalising the Business case; and

(h)      instructs the Chief Officer – Corporate Landlord to submit the completed Outline Business Case (OBC) to the Education and Children’s Services Committee on 17 February 2026, seeking that Committee’s referral of the OBC to the budget setting process for 2026/27.

On a division, there voted:- for the motion (8) – the Convener; the Vice Convener; and Councillors Allard, Buchanan, Clark, Fairfull, Hutchison and MacGregor; for the amendment (7) – Councillors Blake, Brooks, Crockett, Grant and McLeod; and Dr Murray and Mr Murray; declined to vote (3) – Ms Barclay, Mr Haywood and Ms Munro.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       to note that officers would ensure that the sites mentioned during deliberation of the report, such as the new 4G park in Northfield, were included in the future outline business case;

(ii)       to note that officers would provide information to Members outwith the meeting on the overall situation city-wide in respect of under-occupancy, over-occupancy and capacity in schools; and

(iii)      to adopt the motion.

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