Issue - meetings

Report of the Head of Planning, Transportation & Environment (PTE/16/47) on the proposed revised Educational Infrastructure Plan 2016-2033, taking account of changes in national policy and providing a comprehensive framework for meeting the future education infrastructure needs of Devon’s children, attached.

(Councillors Greenslade, Hannan and Westlake attended in accordance with Standing Order 25(2) and spoke to this item).

The Cabinet considered the Report of the Head of Planning, Transportation & Environment (PTE/16/47) on a proposed, revised, Educational Infrastructure Plan for the period 2016-2033, taking account of changes in national policy and providing a comprehensive framework for meeting the future education infrastructure needs of Devon’s children.

The current Plan had been closely monitored since its approval in 2013 (Minute 654/10 April 2013 refers) and the Head of Service now recommended a number of changes to ensure the practices and procedures contained therein reflected current Government legislation and that it was in accord with the County Council’s policies and strategies and would ensure sustainable patterns of educational provision through it’s core responsibilities and statutory duties. The Plan reflected changes in legislation, methodologies and modifications and funding sources and mechanisms, recognising the changing role of the Local Authority in relation to educational provision and its relationship, inter alia, with the Regional Schools Commissioner and the Education Funding Agency.

The Head of Service’s Report also incorporated an Impact Assessment relating to the revised Infrastructure Plan and possible impacts of the decision required of the Council insofar as the Cabinet might need to have regard at this stage to the exercise of its Public Sector Equality Duty. The Assessment recognised that the Plan acknowledged the need for every child to have fair access to schools providing the highest standards of teaching, in term of both environment and community sustainability;  supporting the most vulnerable and maximising accessibility while recognising the needs of a changing population. No unmanageable impacts had been identified.

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 unanimously

RESOLVED

(a) that the strategic objectives set out in the revised Education Infrastructure Plan 2016-2033 be approved;

(b) that the revised Education Infrastructure Plan 2016-2033 for planning education infrastructure provision in Devon, including the revised Section 106 Methodology and Policy Document, be adopted and published;

(c) that the Cabinet place on record its thanks to all staff involved in the preparation of the Plan which provided an excellent summary of the current positon and desired outcomes for the future.

[NB: The Impact Assessment referred to above may be viewed alongside Minutes of this meeting and may also be available at:  http://new.devon.gov.uk/impact/].