Issue - meetings

That Council:

1.     Approves the addition of £2.188m to the capital programme to deliver the scheme at Shipston High School, to be funded by developer contributions.

2.     Approves the addition of £16.500m to the capital programme to deliver the new primary school at Callendar Farm to be funded by developer contributions and education capital funding from the Education Capital Investment Fund

Councillor Kam Kaur (Portfolio Holder for Education) moved the recommendation as set out in the report.  Councillor Peter Butlin seconded the recommendation and reserved the right to speak.

Debate

Councillor Jeff Clarke, Isobel Seccombe and Robert Tromans welcomed the report and the investment in school places which would benefit residents in their respective divisions.  Councillor Seccombe applauded the community-use element of the facilities in Shipston.  She welcomed that the proposals built upon previous investments at Kenilworth, Oakley Grove, and Fusilier Way, whereas Councillor Barbara Brown sought further investment in Rugby.  Councillor Brown also asked for information regarding how the impact of the 20% uplift in building costs on the feasibility of Carbon Net Zero would be mitigated.

Councillor Butlin explained the Council’s position on the delivery of school places and the £20m investment that had been made to meet demand. He noted that the development at Callendar Farm was in response to demand from housing developments in Nuneaton.  Councillor Butlin had been delighted to be able to visit developments at Top Farm and Oakley Grove to see the results of the Council’s investment. 

In response to questions raised during the debate, Councillor Kaur noted that over the last five years two new secondary schools had been delivered in Rugby and work was taking place with developers to deliver another in Houlton.  Regarding the impact of the 20% uplift in building costs on the feasibility of Carbon Net Zero, Councillor Kaur noted that whilst these were two important issues, on balance, it was preferred to deliver school places.

Vote

A vote was held. The motion was carried unanimously.

Resolved

That Council:

1.     Approves the addition of £2.188m to the capital programme to deliver the scheme at Shipston High School, to be funded by developer contributions.

2.     Approves the addition of £16.500m to the capital programme to deliver the new primary school at Callendar Farm to be funded by developer contributions and education capital funding from the Education Capital Investment Fund

This report seeks the addition of new education projects to the education capital programme.

Cabinet Portfolio Holder - Councillor Peter Butlin

Councillor Peter Butlin (Deputy Leader of the Council) opened this item and set out the further additions to the Education Capital Programme as detailed in the report: Shipston High School, delivery of a New Primary School at Callendar Farm Nuneaton, Early Years Schemes at Kenilworth Nursery School, Little Learners Day Nursery (Nuneaton), Happy Days Nursery (Southam) and Shipston Pre-School, and the former radio station mast site at Houlton in Rugby.

Councillor Sarah Feeney asked if the Council had considered the impact of the government’s proposals for increased nursery places and Councillor Butlin replied that he would seek a response to this question from the Portfolio Holder who had given apologies for the meeting.

Councillor Yousef Dahmash welcomed the collection of developer contributions towards school facilities at Houlton.  Councillor Butlin responded that Urban and Civic had done a good job on the site.

Resolved:

That Cabinet:

1.     Recommends to Council the addition to the capital programme of £2.188m to the capital programme to deliver the scheme at Shipston High School. This will be funded by developer contribution;

2.     Recommends to Council the addition of £16.500m to the capital programme to deliver the new primary school at Callendar Farm to be funded by developer contributions and education capital funding from the Education Capital Investment Fund;

3.     Approves the addition to the capital programme of £0.418m to the capital programme to deliver the Early Years schemes at Kenilworth Nursery, Little Learners Day Nursery (Nuneaton), Happy Days Nursery (Southam) and Shipston Pre-School to be funded by developer contributions and the DfE Childcare Expansion Capital Grant; and

4.     Approves the addition to the capital programme of £1.660m to be transferred to Urban & Civic towards the delivery of Houlton School to be funded by collected developer contributions.