Andrew Hill asked the following question:

In the 2015 funding agreement the EFA set aside 4 acres of land for Forest Bridge at the BCA site, presumably in the full knowledge of the historic home on the greenbelt site. Why is RBWM of the opinion that part of this educational site (with its stated beneficial links with BCA) is no longer suitable for development as the schools permanent site, given that it has recently approved a large development of care homes against advice from the Head of Planning?

The Lead Member for Children’s Services apologised to Mr Hill that the question had not been answered at the Children’s Overview and Scrutiny Panel the week before as had been promised by the Chairman of the Culture and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Panel. She explained that the Education Funding Agency purchased land at BCA as a potential site in stage one of their three stage process for free school delivery.  In the second stage they commenced detailed assessment on the deliverability of the project and based on advice from their planning consultants considered that the option at BCA presented too high a risk at the current time due to heritage concerns.  Should they reconsider then any planning application would be considered by RBWM under the normal procedure; so far no application had been received. The Chairman commented that as the Local Planning Authority all the borough could do was determine a planning application if submitted. The council was therefore not in a position to comment on whether the site was the best site for the school; this was not a policy decision for the Cabinet.

Cabinet had received two written questions from pupils at Forest Bridge School:

From Oliver - Why did you choose to become a councillor?

From Douglas - Why do you do it and what do you do?

Councillor D. Wilson responded that he had become a councillor because he had wanted to get involved in local issues, be a part of the community and make a difference in the decision making. He had been a local councillor since 1991. He enjoyed being involved in politics and had done so since 1978. He had a keen interest in local politics and liked to be able to make a difference. In particular Planning gave him the opportunity to do this.

Councillor S Rayner explained that she had been a parish councillor in Horton and Wraysbury, which had given her the appetite for local government. She had then decided to stand as a local councillor. She enjoyed helping the vulnerable; her portfolio allowed her to be involved in sports centres and parks in the borough.

Councillor N. Airey explained that she had been elected at age 21; she had got involved to represent young people in politics. As the Lead Member she was able to represent young people. She had to attend lots of meetings but also got to meet lots of people in the community and could see that a tangible difference was made to people’s lives, particularly those who were too young to vote.

Councillor Saunders explained that he first became involved in politics as a student at Liverpool University in the early 1980s and had stood as Conservative a candidate. He had then spent thirty years away from politics, focussing on a career in finance. He had come back to politics with the simple ambition of using his skills and experience in local government. 

The Chairman highlighted that the borough had recently signed a Heads of Terms agreement with the EFA for a potential new site for Forest Bridge school, subject to planning, in Braywick Park. This would provide funding for a £6m new school.