Agenda item

With reference to article 20 of the minute of the meeting of the Education, Culture and Sport Committee of 16 September 2010, the Committee had before it a report which detailed the outcome of the statutory consultation on the proposals for children with additional support needs arising from complex factors.

The report advised that the Committee had approved the development of a new school on the Raeden site which would offer nursery, primary and secondary education as well as related health provision for up to 120 children and young people.  The new school would also provide 16 part time pre-school nursery places and wrap-around family support and out of school care services.

It was noted that the statutory consultation on the closure of Raeden School had been undertaken between 6 December 2010 and 31 January 2011, had included 4 public meetings, and members of the public had been given the chance to comment on the proposals and submit feedback.  The consultation report, incorporating this feedback, was appended to the report.

The Council Budget meeting on 10 February 2011 had instructed officers to find an alternative funding model for the project, and the report outlined the positive discussions which had been held with Hub Co. North, a joint venture company which had indicated that it would be keen to work with the Council to deliver the project.  It was noted that the project would be reviewed to enable detailed costings to be reported to the Finance and Resources Committee on 21 April 2011.

The report noted that there was a need to close the Raeden Nursery School by the end of July 2011, and therefore Committee approval was sought in principle to close Raeden; to allocate children to 3 developmental nurseries; and to temporarily decant pupils to the former Braeside School to enable the construction of the new school, subject to the approval of the funding arrangements by the Finance and Resources Committee.

The report recommended:-

that Committee:-

a)         note the outcome of the statutory consultation on the proposals for children with additional support needs arising from complex factors;

b)         instruct officers to complete a full business case for the development of the new school and campus on the site of the existing Raeden Centre;

c)         refers the business case to Finance and Resources Committee for a decision on the proposed funding methodology; and

d)         agrees in principle to the closure of Raeden Nursery; the allocation of children to the 3 proposed developmental nurseries; the temporary decant of children to the former Braeside School, to enable the construction of the new school and campus on the site of the Raeden Centre, subject to the approval of the business case by the Finance and Resources Committee.

The Convener, seconded by the Vice-Convener, moved the recommendations contained in the report.

Councillor Laing, seconded by Councillor Collie, moved as an amendment:-

that Committee:-

(a)       note the outcome of the statutory consultation on the proposals for children with additional support needs arising from complex needs;

(b)       instructs officers to complete a full business case for the development of the new school and campus on the site of the existing Raeden Centre; and

(c)        refers the business case to the Finance and Resources Committee for a decision on the proposed funding methodology, and thereafter, refers the business case back to Education, Culture and Sport Committee for a final decision.

On a division, there voted:-  for the motion (18) – the Convener; the Vice Convener; and Councillors Boulton, Corall, Cormie, Farquharson, Leslie, May, Reynolds, Robertson, Jennifer Stewart, Kevin Stewart, Wisely and Yuill; and Mr A. Aitken, Mr G Bruce, Mr P Campbell and Mr S Duncan; for the amendment (4) - Councillors Collie, Cooney, Crockett and Laing.

The Committee resolved:-

to adopt the motion.