Agenda and minutes

Report of Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, detailing the Call-In of Executive Decision CAB 21/22 32353 – Land at the corner of Lime Street / Evans Street.

DECISION MADE: (CAB 21/22 32564)

On consideration of the report of Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, detailing the Call-In of Executive Decision CAB 21/22 32353 – Land at the corner of Lime Street / Evans Street, Cabinet received representations from Councillor Fielker, Chair of Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee,  John Draper, Chair of Southampton School’s Forum, Kirsten Buist, Chair of Southampton Primary Headteacher Conference, Kate Vincent, Members of the Council and other interested parties. 

The following recommendations received from Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee at their meeting on 22^nd September, 2021 were  addressed by Cabinet:

(i)  That Cabinet postpone the decision on the sale of land to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government whilst it gathers and analyses the data required to evidence the demand for an increase in primary school places in the city.

Upon being put to the vote, recommendation (i) was rejected.

(ii)  If analysis identifies that the evidence is not available to support the increase in demand for primary school places in the city, that Cabinet postpone the decision on the sale of land to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to negotiate an agreement, as a condition of sale, that the school significantly contributes to meeting the Special Educational Needs within the city.

Upon being put to the vote, recommendation (ii) was rejected. 

If Cabinet is not minded to postpone the decision:

(iii)  Cabinet work to reach a binding agreement between Hope School governors and Southampton City Council that commits the new school to meaningfully contribute to meeting the need for additional SEND provision in the city.

Upon being put to the vote, recommendation (iii) was rejected.

(iv)  That Cabinet report back to this Committee on the meaning support which will be provided to mitigate the negative impact the expansion of Hope School to a two form of entry school is forecast to have on the wider primary school community in Southampton.

Upon being put to the vote, recommendation (iv) was accepted. 

(v)  That Cabinet commits to meaningfully consult and engage with stakeholders when making decisions and that these consultations are reflected in the decision-making reports presented to Cabinet and Council and the pre-decision briefing papers considered by scrutiny committees.

Upon being put to the vote, recommendation (v) was accepted.