Ian Curryer – Other Council Business

Councillor Sally Longford declared an interest in agenda item 5 ‘Expansion of Middleton Primary School – Key Decision’ (minute 39) as a governor of Middleton Primary School, and left the room during consideration of this item.

Last meeting held on 18 July 2017 (for confirmation)

The minutes of the meeting held on 18 July 2017 were agreed as a true record and they were signed by the Chair.

Report of Deputy Leader/Portfolio Holder for Resources and Neighbourhood Regeneration

The Deputy Leader/ Portfolio Holder for Resources and Neighbourhood Regeneration introduced the report, updating the Board on the Council’s current and forecast year-end financial position for the General Fund revenue account, Capital Programme and the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) based on activity to the end of June 2017.

RESOLVED to:

(1)  note:

(a)  the overall current (medium case) forecast net overspend of £7.858 million, as set out in paragraph 2.2 and Appendix A of the report.  Planned management action is forecast to reduce the overspend to £0.858 million although the Council is committed to delivering services on budget for 2017/18;

(b)  the management action being taken to control the identified cost pressures across services, as set out in Appendix B of the report;

(c)  the forecast working balance of £5.195 million on the HRA, as set out in paragraph 2.8 of the report;

(d)  the forecast position on the Capital Programme, as set out in paragraph 2.10 of the report;

(e)  the Capital Programme projections at Quarter 1, as set out in paragraph 2.10 of the report (table 7);

(f)  the additions to the Capital Programme listed in Appendix E of the report;

(g)  the refreshed Capital Programme, including schemes in development, as set out in paragraph 2.10 of the report (tables 8, 9 and 10).

(2)  approve the movements of resources set out in paragraph 2.7 and Appendix D of the report;

(3)  note and endorse the allocations from the corporate contingency as set out in paragraph 2.5 of the report.

Reasons for decisions

It enables formal monitoring of progress against the 2017/18 budget and the impact of actual and planned management action.

The approval for virements of budgets is required by corporate financial procedures.

Other options considered

No other options were considered as the Council is required to ensure that, at a corporate level, expenditure and income are kept within approved budget levels and this report sets out how this is being managed. 

Report of Portfolio Holder for Business, Education and Skills

Councillor Sally Longford declared an interest as a governor of Middleton Primary School, and left the room during consideration of this item.

The Portfolio Holder for Business, Education and Skills introduced the report on the proposed expansion of Middleton Primary School.

Middleton Primary School is an OFSTED rated ‘Good’ school. A 4-week consultation took place with parents/carers, staff, governors, councillors local residents and citizens in April and May 2017 to expand the school’s capacity from 420 to 630 places.

RESOLVED to approve the expansion of Middleton Primary and Nursery School from a 420 place school to a 630 place school, from 1 September 2018.

Reasons for decisions

Although the city-wide picture for primary place provision is greatly improved, place pressures are still apparent in some areas, Wollaton being one of them. There has been an upward trend of pupil growth in this area and increasingly, there are more applications from within Middleton Primary’s immediate catchment area, than there are places available.

In the 2015/16 Reception year, Middleton Primary admitted additional pupils over the Published Admission Number (PAN) of 60. In the 2017/18 Reception year, they will again be admitting additional pupils over the current PAN.  A longer term solution is needed to address the sustained growth in pupil numbers.  From September 2018, additional teaching, learning and hall space will be required. If Middleton Primary does not expand, there will be insufficient capacity to accommodate the growth in the number of applications from families in the catchment area.

In order to meet the need and demand for school places in this area of Wollaton, it is proposed to expand Middleton Primary School from 420 to 630 places. There would be 90 pupils in each year group instead of 60 and the school would grow by one class per year (30 pupils) over a seven year period, until the school is full.

One of the 5 key objectives of the Council Plan 2015-19, is to ensure that every child in Nottingham is taught in a school that is judged good or outstanding by Ofsted. The proposal to expand Middleton Primary School also supports the Council priorities of access to a good school close to home for every young person in Nottingham, and to meet parental preferences of places for every child at a local primary school.

Parents/carers quite rightly expect their children to be offered a local school place and the case for expanding a school which delivers a quality provision in an area where there are insufficient school places is a strong one. It is the duty and the desire of both the Council and the School to maximise opportunities to deliver a quality education to the communities we serve.

Initial feasibility investigations (approved by Portfolio Holder Decision Ref: 2453) have confirmed that there is space on the site to expand, without compromising the quality of education and facilities. Any new buildings will be designed in collaboration with the school, to complement the existing build and be fit for the future of the growing school community.

The school leadership team and the governing body are fully committed in their support for the proposal to expand the school.  Extensive considerations have been undertaken by the School Governing Body and staff. Middleton achieves very good results and outcomes for the children who attend and has been rated as a “Good” school by Ofsted.

Successful initial feasibility and early design investigations and a full and thorough consultation process with all stakeholders have been undertaken. The number of respondents in support of the proposal to expand the school exceeded the number against. One representation was made during the Statutory Notice stage, which is included at Appendix B, with a full response to the points raised. The full consultation results and summary of responses are included at Appendix A.

The initial estimated date of completion for Key Stage One is September 2018 and for Key Stage Two, is December 2019, but this is subject to the completion of full feasibility and design works. The build would be funded by Basic Need funding allocated to the Council by Central Government, for expanding primary place provision. At this stage, it is currently estimated that the expansion of Middleton Primary School would cost £4.1m.

The initial estimated date of completion for Key Stage One is September 2018 and for Key Stage Two, is December 2019, but this is subject to the completion of full feasibility and design works. The build would be funded by Basic Need funding allocated to the Council by Central Government, for expanding primary place provision. At this stage, it is currently estimated that the expansion of Middleton Primary School would cost £4.1million.

Other options considered

Add further temporary bulge years at Middleton Primary, in excess of the Pupil Admission Number. This is not a favourable or feasible option as it would not address the sustained pupil growth in the area and the school have no further capacity to accommodate additional children within the existing space.

Other potential school build / expansion options were also considered (Bluecoat and Southwold), but Middleton is the preferred option due to the reasons stated in this report.

Do nothing – this is not recommended as additional school places are required in the area. Sustained growth in pupil numbers required a permanent solution to meet the needs of the local community by providing a good school, close to home (as per the Council’s priorities).

Report of Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture

The Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture introduced the report, seeking approval to apply to the Fields in Trust Centenary Fields Programme, and to nominate both Victoria Embankment and Bulwell Forest Park as recreational sites to be protected in perpetuity as Centenary Parks.

RESOLVED to

(1)  agree to nominate Victoria Embankment and Bulwell Forest Park as recreational spaces suitable for the Fields in Trust Centenary Fields Programme;

(2)  delegate authority to the Director of Strategic Assets and Property in consultation with the Director of Legal and Governance Services to establish terms and enter into the Deed of Dedication with Fields in Trust for Victoria Embankment and Bulwell Forest Park;

(3)  delegate authority to the Portfolio Holder of Leisure and Culture the ability to accept any future external funding associated with the Centenary Fields Programme and designated sites in consultation with the Director for Legal and Governance Services;

(4)  delegate authority to the Director of Sport and Culture to carry out tender Process and enter into contracts that may be needed in the event that funding is made available as part of the Centenary Fields programme.

Reasons for decisions

The Centenary Fields Programme will provide the City with the opportunity to be part of an officially endorsed initiative to commemorate the First World War.

The initiative will provide the vehicle to permanently dedicate and protect a number of playing fields within the city. These sites will be safeguarded from development and will provide the city with the opportunity to promote its commitment to providing and enhancing sports and recreational provision within the city.

Other options considered

Alternative sites around the city have been considered for designation however, they have been discounted on the basis that they do not have a clear link to World War 1 and they do not meet the selection criteria or they have possible regeneration activity planned for the future. Therefore, the two sites proposed are considered to be the most suitable sites for the designation.

Report of Portfolio Holder for Community and Customer Services

The Portfolio Holder for Community and Customer Services introduced the report outlining the conversion of Designated Public Place Orders and Gating Orders to Public Spaces Protection Orders.

RESOLVED to:

(1)  note the contents of the report and note that unless first revoked the Public Spaces Protection Orders which will replace the Nottingham Designated Public Place Orders and the Nottingham Gating Orders shall remain in force for a period of three years from 20 October 2017 and shall then be the subject of review;

(2)  confirm that the arrangements for the provision of replacement keys for gates that were installed under the Nottingham Gating Orders, following the conversion of the Nottingham Gating Orders to Public Spaces Protection Orders, remain as outlined in the Executive Board decision dated 20 June 2006 referred to in paragraph 1.5 of the report;

(3)  approve the replacement of existing Designated Public Place Order and Gating Order signage throughout the City with Public Spaces Protection Order signage.

Reasons for decisions

Under Section 75 of the 2014 Act, any Designated Public Place Order (DPPO) that is still in force on 19 October 2017 will remain in force as if the provisions of the DPPO were provisions of a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) with any necessary modifications. Nottingham City Council (“the Authority”) currently has 8 DPPOs in force that will remain in force on 20 October 2017 and, accordingly, will convert to PSPOs on that date.

Under Section 75 of the 2014 Act, any Gating Order that is still in force on 20 October 2017 will remain in force as if the provisions of the Gating Orders were provisions of a PSPO with any necessary modifications. The Authority currently has 11 Gating Orders in force that will remain in force on 20 October 2017 and, accordingly, will convert to PSPOs on that date.

The Nottingham DPPOs and the Nottingham Gating Orders do not have any stipulated maximum term, nor any statutory requirement for review, and unless specifically revoked would have remained in force permanently. PSPOs can only last for a maximum term of three years, although they can be extended for a further period of three years if certain tests are met and can be extended more than once.

Existing signage notifying members of the public of the existence and the terms of the Nottingham DPPOs and Nottingham Gating Orders is currently in place and, by virtue of regulations made pursuant to the 2014 Act will need to be replaced with signage in respect of the PSPOs that succeed them.

Additional keys may occasionally need to be cut for gates installed under the Nottingham Gating Orders. By virtue of an Executive Board decision dated 20 June 2006, the cost of any additional keys was allocated to Area Committees and it is considered appropriate that these arrangements continue.

Other options considered

The 2014 Act allows for the automatic transition of the Nottingham DPPOs and the Nottingham Gating Orders to PSPOs. Whilst it would have been possible for the Authority to review and revoke all of the Nottingham DPPOs and Nottingham Gating Orders, this is not felt to be appropriate in the light of the long standing anti-social behaviour issues that prompted their introduction in the first place.