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Agenda item

Report of the Head of Planning, Transportation and Environment (PTE/18/20) on the capital funding proposals for the growth of Honiton Community Primary school, attached.

Minutes:

(Councillors Connett, Hannaford and Shaw attended in accordance with Standing Order 25(2) and spoke to this item).

 

The Cabinet considered the Report of the Head of Planning, Transportation and Environment (PTE/18/20) circulated prior to the meeting in accordance with regulation 7(4) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 201 on the capital funding proposals for the growth of Honiton Community Primary School to deliver a single-phase build to ensure the school could expand from a 420 place to a 630 place school to meet demographic and housing needs in the area.

 

The Education Infrastructure Plan (EIP), approved by Cabinet on 16 October 2016 (PTE/16/47), included a proposal to expand Honiton Primary school and the Planning, Transportation and Environment capital programme included an allocation of £1.2m (CT16/12) to support a first phase of a project to expand the School by a total of 210 places. 

 

A new housing development had recently commenced in the Town, land west of Hayne Lane, Honiton which included a planning obligation to pay £2,840 per dwelling (index linked) towards enhancing primary education.

 

The Report outlined the original intention for a phased scheme due to uncertainties of the housing development and the potential risk of not securing the section 106 developer contributions. 

 

The total cost of a single-phase project was estimated at £2.7m of which £1.2m was already approved.  Due to the greater certainty of securing developer contributions of up to £852,000 (index linked), it was proposed to deliver the single-phase proposal, initially funded from £1.5m of unallocated basic need funding in the 2019-20 Planning, Transportation and Environment Basic Need Programme. The proposal would future proof primary provision in the Town for current and future housing growth and Cabinet was being asked to support the principle that retrospective developer contributions should be sought from future housing development in the area to recognise the forward funding of infrastructure.

 

The EIP had been through a consultative process including Headteacher and Governor Associations, the Schools Forum and Cabinet, detailed conversations with the Local Learning Community and local schools on the proposal and the local Member had been kept informed.

 

The proposal was included within the Education Infrastructure Plan 2016 - 2033 which included an Equality Impact Needs Assessment when approved by Cabinet in October 2016 available at: https://new.devon.gov.uk/impact/the-education-infrastructure-plan-2016-2033-revised/ which highlighted statutory duty of the Local Authority to secure sufficient educational provision in its area, to act as champions for all parents and families and support the most vulnerable children.

 

The matter having been debated and the options and/or alternatives and other relevant factors (e.g. financial, sustainability, carbon impact, risk management, equality and legal considerations and Public Health impact) set out in the Head of Service’s Report and/or referred to above having been considered:

 

It was MOVED by Councillor McInnes, SECONDED by Councillor Hart, and

 

RESOLVED

 

(a) that the revised project to expand Honiton Primary school be approved; and

 

(b) that the forward funding of additional primary places from the Basic Need capital allocation be noted and the principle of securing retrospective developer contributions be supported.

Supporting documents:


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