Issue - meetings

RESOLVED:

That, subject to the agreement of the detailed financial information of the scheme as set out in Part 2 of the submitted report, the Cabinet approves the business case for the contribution of relevant sums towards the construction of an all weather sports pitch at Chertsey High School.

Reasons for Decisions

The proposal supports the Authority’s statutory obligation to provide sufficient school places to meet the needs of the population in Runnymede Borough enabling the provision of Year 7 places when and where they are needed.

[The decisions on this item can be called in by either the Corporate Services Select Committee or the Children and Education Select Committee]

The Cabinet Member for Education informed Members that Chertsey High School was a new 4 form of entry (120 places per year 600 places in total) Secondary School opened as part of the Free School Programme. She went on to say that the Council had provided the site of the former Runnymede Centre for the new school, with the Department of Education (DFE) providing the capital build costs and that an all-weather pitch was tied to the whole project.

Members were told that the school had the potential to rise to 900 places over time in line with demographic need and that the school opened in September 2017 for 120 year 7 pupils.

In order to establish the school the Council had undertaken detailed conversations with the current occupier of the sports ground at the site, Abby Rangers Football Club. To achieve joint use of the area for the new school and the existing community sports club the Council had proposed to joint fund with the DFE the installation of an all-weather sports pitch. This paper provided the Business Case for the relevant contribution towards that facility for Community and School use.

She summarised by saying that the provision and potential future expansion of the school was enabling Surrey County Council to meet the existing and forecast demand for secondary school places in Runnymede borough.

Cabinet Members commented that they felt that the business case that was good value for money and an excellent example of partnership working.

The Leader concluded the discussion on this item by informing Cabinet Members that the Ride London-Surrey event had also contributed towards the project.

RESOLVED:

That, subject to the agreement of the detailed financial information of the scheme as set out in Part 2 of the submitted report, the Cabinet approves the business case for the contribution of relevant sums towards the construction of an all weather sports pitch at Chertsey High School.

Reasons for Decisions

The proposal supports the Authority’s statutory obligation to provide sufficient school places to meet the needs of the population in Runnymede Borough enabling the provision of Year 7 places when and where they are needed.