Cabinet considered options for the provision of additional primary school places in Ascot. The Lead Member explained that a clear majority of respondents to the consultation had preferred the option of expansion at Cheapside School. The school currently offered 16 places per year; with expansion this would increase to 30 per year from September 2017. The report did not request capital funding as proposals needed to be developed before moving to the tendering stage. The recommendation included the need to develop an infrastructure plan to deal with issues such as parking. An infrastructure plan would be developed for each school in the consultation.

The Deputy Lead Member for Ascot Regeneration commented that as an Ascot councillor he had been made acutely aware of the shortage of places by people moving into the area who struggled to find a place for their child. Cheapside was rated as Outstanding by Ofsted. The increase to 30 places would secure the school’s long term future. The school was in the Green Belt but he imagined that special circumstances could be demonstrated. He and his fellow ward councillor would be pleased to be involved in the process with officers, particularly in relation to the infrastructure plan.

Councillor Jones stated that she supported the report. She requested that further expansion be considered in relation to future development so that places were provided in the right locations. The Lead Member agreed that this would be the case and would involve consultation with residents. The Lead Member for Planning requested that the infrastructure plan be forwarded to the Planning Policy team.

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That Cabinet:

Approves a four-stranded approach to meeting the forecast future need for primary school places in the Ascot area as follows:

i.       In relation to Cheapside Church of England Primary school:

a.         Approves the publication of a formal proposal for the expansion of the school from 16 to 30 places per year group from September 2017 (see Option A in table 1) during September 2016.

b.        Authorises the Lead Member for Children’s Services and the Managing Director & Strategic Director of Adult, Children and Health Services to determine the expansion proposal following the end of the representation period during October 2016.

c.         Authorises the Head of Schools and Education Services to proceed with procurement and tendering for the scheme to expand the School.

ii.      Requests that the Managing Director & Strategic Director of Adult, Children and Health Service works with the Strategic Director of Corporate & Community Services to ensure that one or more new primary school sites in Ascot are identified as the housing plans for the area develop.

iii.    That further work is done to develop the plans to expand the existing schools (see Options B and C in table 1) so that these can be implemented when needed.

iv.    That, for all options, a local infrastructure plan is developed to minimise the impact of new primary school places on the local community.

(Councillor Bateson left the room for the duration of the discussion and voting on the item)