Agenda, decisions and minutes

At this point in the meeting, the Executive Member is asked to

declare:

·        any personal interests not included on the Register of

     Interests

·        any prejudicial interests or

·        any disclosable pecuniary interests

which he might have in respect of business on this agenda.

The Executive Member was asked to declare any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests, any prejudicial interests or any disclosable pecuniary interests that he may have in respect of business on the agenda. No additional interests were declared.

To approve and sign the minutes of the decision session held on                26 July 2016.

Resolved:  That the minutes of the Decision Session held on 26 July 2016 be approved and signed as a correct record.

At this point in the meeting, members of the public who have

registered their wish to speak at the meeting can do so. The

deadline for registering is at 5.00pm on Monday 23 January 2017.

Members of the public may register to speak on an item on the agenda or an issue within the Executive Member’s remit.

Filming, Recording or Webcasting Meetings

Please note this meeting may be filmed and webcast and that

includes any registered public speakers, who have given their

permission. This broadcast can be viewed at

http://www.york.gov.uk/webcasts.

Residents are welcome to photograph, film or record Councillors

and Officers at all meetings open to the press and public. This

includes the use of social media reporting, i.e. tweeting. Anyone

wishing to film, record or take photos at any public meeting

should contact the Democracy Officers (whose contact details are

at the foot of this agenda) in advance of the meeting.

The Council’s protocol on Webcasting, Filming & Recording of

Meetings ensures that these practices are carried out in a

manner both respectful to the conduct of the meeting and all

those present. It can be viewed at:

http://www.york.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/11406/protocol_for_webcasting_filming_and_recording_of_council_meetings_20160809.pdf

It was reported that there had been no registrations to speak at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

This report seeks approval of the admissions policies and published admission numbers for community and voluntary controlled schools – schools for whom the City of York Council is the admissions authority – for the year beginning in September 2018.

The report also seeks approval of the co-ordinated admissions schemes for the City of York area – for which City of York Council is the coordinating Local Authority – for applications to start the school year beginning in September 2018.

Resolved:  (i)      That the coordinated schemes and admissions

policies for all City of York Council schools for the 2018/19 school year, as set out in annexes B-G and Z-AB of the report, be approved.

(ii)      That the proposed admission numbers for all City

of York Council schools for the school year beginning in September 2018, as set out in Annex A of the report, be approved.

Reason:              To meet the statutory requirements of the School

                             Admissions Code of Practice.

The Executive Member considered a report which sought approval of the admissions policies and published admission numbers for community and voluntary controlled schools – schools for whom the City of York Council is the admissions authority – for the school year beginning in September 2018.  The report also sought approval of the coordinated admissions schemes for the City of York area – for which the City of York Council is the coordinating Local Authority – for applications to start the school year beginning in September 2018.

Officers gave details of the consultation that had taken place on the proposed arrangements.

The Executive Member’s attention was drawn to paragraphs 21 and 22 of the report, which outlined a change to the admissions policy for junior schools.  This change, which would only apply to two schools in York, was the inclusion of a criterion within the oversubscription criteria for those children who attend the neighbouring infant school.

Officers also gave details of a request by Joseph Rowntree School to increase its Published Admission Number (PAN) from 220 to 232.  Paragraph 23 of the report detailed the principles that should apply when considering increases in PANs.  The Executive Member sought confirmation that the proposed increase in the PAN for Joseph Rowntree School would not necessitate additional basic need capital expenditure.  Officers confirmed that additional capital expenditure would not be required and that the school had indicated that it could accommodate the additional numbers through better utilising current teaching spaces and reclassifying some current non teaching spaces into teaching spaces.

The Executive Member stated that he was pleased to note the cohesive approach that was being taken by the Local Authority and the academies in respect of school admission arrangements.

Resolved:  (i)      That the coordinated schemes and admissions

policies for all City of York Council schools for the 2018/19 school year, as set out in annexes B-G and Z-AB of the report, be approved.

(ii)      That the proposed admission numbers for all City

of York Council schools for the school year beginning in September 2018, as set out in Annex A of the report, be approved.

Reason:              To meet the statutory requirements of the School

                             Admissions Code of Practice.

This report seeks approval to provide additional temporary classroom accommodation at Acomb Primary School.  The additional classrooms are required from the beginning of the 2017/18 school year.  This accommodation will meet existing demand at the school following a decision to admit additional pupils in the school’s Reception cohort in 2016, which relieved wider pupil place pressures in the west of the city.  Approval is sought for the required capital expenditure.

Resolved:  That the budget of £300,000 for the provision of a temporary double classroom unit be approved.

Reason:     To provide enough classroom accommodation at Acomb Primary School for the increased intake admitted in September 2016.

The Executive Member considered a report which sought approval to provide additional temporary classroom accommodation at Acomb Primary School.  The additional classrooms were required from the beginning of the 2017/18 school year.  This accommodation would meet existing demand at the school following a decision to admit additional pupils in the school’s Reception cohort in 2016, which relieved wider pupil place pressures in the west of the city.  Approval was sought for the required capital expenditure.

Officers gave details of the reasons why the temporary classroom was required, as outlined in the report, and stated that a double temporary classroom unit was recommended to enable the school to accommodate one bulge year from September 2017 and to continue to provide for out of school provision.  Consultation had taken place with the headteacher and governors of Acomb Primary School and the headteachers from the “West” cluster of schools.

The Executive Member noted that the costs of this provision would be around £300,000, as detailed in paragraph 18 of the report. Funding for the scheme was available within the Basic Need programme budget.  Officers were asked about the costs of providing a single classroom unit in comparison to a double unit.  They stated that most of the costs related to utilities and ground work and that these would apply irrespective of the size of unit.  A double unit would, however, give greater flexibility.

The Executive Member stated that he recognised the value of accommodation being available for purposes such as wrap around care, as well as for classrooms. 

Officers were asked about the impact of the additional accommodation on neighbouring schools.  The Executive Member was informed that many of the schools in that area of the city were at, or over, their Published Admission Number.  There were, however, two schools which did have some capacity.  The Local Authority sought to support schools in filling places that were available but this was not always possible.  The Executive Member stated that he supported the principle of parental preference where possible.

Resolved:  That the budget of £300,000 for the provision of a temporary double classroom unit be approved.

Reason:     To provide enough classroom accommodation at Acomb Primary School for the increased intake admitted in September 2016.