Agenda item

Reference was made to article 4 of the minute of its meeting of 28 March 2013 at which time the Committee instructed officers to carry out statutory consultation on the following formal proposal “to close Kincorth Academy and Torry Academy and to amalgamate the two schools on a new purpose built secondary school on the Bobby Calder Park site”. The Committee had before it on this day a report by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which presented the outcome of the statutory consultation.

With reference to article 3 of this minute, the Committee heard from David Fryer and Lesley-Anne Yeats on behalf of Torry Community Council, who advised that it would be their preference for children in the Torry area to be educated in Torry, however they accepted that it was likely the Council would now proceed with plans to locate the new, much needed school at Bobby Calder Park. Mr Fryer and Ms Yeats continued that their primary concern was now around the travel arrangements for pupils from Torry who would have to travel to attend the new school. They asked that the Council provide free, dedicated bus services to transport the school pupils to and from the new school, and that this service should also take into account accessibility to extra curricular activities.

The Committee asked a number of questions of the deputation and officers, and the Convener thanked Mr Fryer and Ms Yeats for their contribution.

The Director of Education, Culture and Sport took the opportunity to thank the Head Teachers at both Kincorth and Torry Academies for their ongoing hard work and dedication. 

The report recommended:

that the Committee –

(a)       accept the recommendation to proceed with the above proposal and to instruct officers to make the necessary arrangements to deliver the new school by the beginning of school session 2016/17, i.e. August 2016; and

(b)       instruct officers to work with local transport providers to provide subsidised dedicated transport for pupils resident in the catchment area of Torry to the proposed new school whereby the council will support the service and pupils will pay a fare for each journey made.

The Convener, seconded by the Vice Convener, moved:

            that the Committee –

(1)       accept the recommendation to proceed with the above proposal and to instruct officers to make the necessary arrangements to deliver the new school by the beginning of school session 2016/17, ie August 2016;

(2)       instruct officers to work with local transport providers to provide subsidised dedicated transport for pupils resident in the catchment area of Torry to the proposed new school whereby the Council will support the service and pupils may pay a fare for each journey made;  and

(3)       to instruct officers to investigate the potential transport needs of all other pupils within the catchment areas of the new school.

Councillor Townson, seconded by Councillor McCaig, moved as an amendment:

            that the Committee –

(I)         accept the recommendation to proceed with the above proposal and to instruct officers to make the necessary arrangements to deliver the new school by the beginning of school session 2016/17, i.e. August 2016;

(II)        instruct officers to work with local transport providers to provide dedicated transport for pupils resident in the catchment area of Torry to the proposed new school whereby the Council would fully support the service and pupils would not be required to pay a fare;

(III)       instruct officers in respect of extra curricular activities by pupils from Torry, to negotiate with local transport providers, a council funded late bus pass system for use on the normal service route, and to report back on the outcome of these discussions;

(IV)      instruct officers to ensure that all required route intervention costs in respect of the identified safe walking/ cycling route from Torry to the proposed new school, via Abbotswell Road and Abbotswell Crescent are identified; and

(V)       instruct officers to review provision of a part subsidised bus service for pupils from Cove and Kincorth in consequence of the site of the proposed new school, and report back to Committee on this.

On a division, the votes cast were as follows: for the motion (17) – the Convener, the Vice Convener; and Councillors Carle, Cooney, Crockett, Lesley Dunbar, Greig, Malik, Jean Morrison, Stewart, Taylor and Young, Mr Duncan, Reverend McKenna, Mr Nicoll, Mr Paul, Mrs Wildi; for the amendment (7) – Councillors Cameron, May, McCaig, Noble, Samarai, Stuart and Townson.

The Committee resolved:

to adopt the successful motion.