Agenda item

This report sets out proposals from the Governing Body of Manor School to relocate the school and to increase its capacity, summarises the outcome of consultations on these proposals and outlines further proposals for a land transfer and associated capital contribution to allow the relocation to proceed.

RESOLVED: (i)         That the outcome of the consultation on proposals to expand and relocate Manor School be noted and that it be noted that no objections were received during the four week statutory “representation” period following publication of statutory notices.

                        (ii)        That it be noted that the statutory School Organisation Committee has supported the proposal to increase the size of Manor School to a 900 place school, by increasing its admission number by 56 children – from 124 in 2006 to 180 in September 2009.

                        (iii)       That it be noted that the Governing Body of Manor School intends to submit a planning application seeking permission to relocate the school to the new site off Millfield Lane.

                        (iv)       That the land transfer proposals set out in paragraph 19 of the report be approved, subject to planning permission being secured for the new school.

                        (v)        That £3.5m be committed to support the development of the new Manor School, from capital receipts generated by the disposal of Council assets at the existing Manor and Lowfield sites.

Members considered a report which set out proposals from the Governing Body of Manor School to relocate the school to a new building off Millfield Lane and to increase its capacity from 630 to 900 places.  The report summarised the outcome of consultation on these proposals and outlined further proposals for a land transfer and associated capital contribution to allow the relocation to proceed.

The relocation and expansion would support the Council’s planned restructuring of education provision on the west side of the City, replace the current unsuitable school building and address the issue of oversubscription at Manor School.  Statutory consultation had been carried out on the proposals and no objections had been received.  Consultation had also taken place via ward committee meetings in Acomb and Poppleton wards and a public meeting hosted by the school.  Again, no objections had been received and responses at the meetings had been supportive of the proposals.

A representative of the York Diocese attended the meeting to show Members plans and artists’ impressions of the new school and answer questions on the design process.  It was confirmed that the impact of the building on Green Belt land would be minimal and that the school’s playing fields and sports hall would be made available for wider community use outside school hours.  The report asked Members to agree. The Council’s Head of Finance drew attention to the risks associated with the proposal to agree a capital contribution to meet the Governors’ statutory liability under the grant funding arrangements, as the planning complexities were not yet known and the availability of the capital was dependent upon sales that were not yet completed.  However, agreeing the contribution was the only way in which funding could be secured for provision of the new school.

With regard to the Shadow Executive’s request that the British Sugar site be examined as a possible alternative site for the school, it was noted that this site had not yet been released and that the Council did not have the capital to purchase it.  Members expressed surprise that this suggestion had been made, given the Council’s support for saving jobs at British Sugar.

RESOLVED: (i)         That the outcome of the consultation on proposals to expand and relocate Manor School be noted and that it be noted that no objections were received during the four week statutory “representation” period following publication of statutory notices.

                        (ii)        That it be noted that the statutory School Organisation Committee has supported the proposal to increase the size of Manor School to a 900 place school, by increasing its admission number by 56 children – from 124 in 2006 to 180 in September 2009.

                        (iii)       That it be noted that the Governing Body of Manor School intends to submit a planning application seeking permission to relocate the school to the new site off Millfield Lane.

                        (iv)       That the land transfer proposals set out in paragraph 19 of the report be approved, subject to planning permission being secured for the new school.

                        (v)        That £3.5m be committed to support the development of the new Manor School, from capital receipts generated by the disposal of Council assets at the existing Manor and Lowfield sites.

REASON:      To enable this project, which provides a vital opportunity to improve educational facilities for young people on the west side of the City by building an up to date, DDA compliant school building with 21^st century facilities, to proceed without delay.