Issue - items at meetings - Proposed New School for Hove - The Connaught Centre

Report of the Strategic Director, People (copy attached)

(1)          That the Cabinet Member notes the interim arrangements for the management and refurbishment of the Connaught Building as a temporary expansion of West Hove Infant School to open in September 2011.

(2)         That the Cabinet Member notes that further work will be undertaken to formally establish the Connaught Building as the permanent infant stage of a new Hove Primary School, which will be reported to the Cabinet Member in due course.

(3)          That the Cabinet Member notes that further work will be undertaken to create the permanent Junior Stage of the new Hove Primary School at another site, which will be reported to the Cabinet Member in due course.

(4)  That the Cabinet Member endorses the proposed admission arrangements for the interim provision in the Connaught Building for the academic year 2011/12.  

48.1            The Cabinet Member for Children and Young People considered a report of the Strategic Director, People. The report concerned the detail regarding the interim arrangements for the management and refurbishment of the Connaught Building as the infant stage of the new Hove primary school.

48.2            The Cabinet Member for Children and Young People conveyed her delight with the proposals and with the decision of West Hove Infant School to operate on a satellite basis for the new school.

48.3            The Head of Capital Strategy and Development Planning supplemented that there was potential for changes to the proposals during the planning application stage. Any amendments would be detailed in future reports submitted to the Cabinet Member Meeting.

48.4            Councillor Hawkes requested officers be very clear to parents concerning the admissions process for the new school.

48.5            The report author clarified that measures were underway that would avoid any confusion surrounding admission applications. Amongst other initiatives, officers had been writing directly to applicants of West Hove Infant School and the new Hove school.

48.6            Councillor Deane enquired about the expected timescale of building work.

48.7            The Schools Futures Project Director answered that work on the design of the facility was underway. It was expected that the planning process would take thirteen weeks with a planning application submitted early in the New Year. Work would start in the beginning of May and be completed by 1^st August 2011.

48.8            RESOLVED-

(1)         That the Cabinet Member notes the interim arrangements for the management and refurbishment of the Connaught Building as a temporary expansion of West Hove Infant School to open in September 2011.

(2)         That the Cabinet Member notes that further work will be undertaken to formally establish the Connaught Building as the permanent infant stage of a new Hove Primary School, which will be reported to the Cabinet Member in due course.

(3)         That the Cabinet Member notes that further work will be undertaken to create the permanent Junior Stage of the new Hove Primary School at another site, which will be reported to the Cabinet Member in due course.

(4)     That the Cabinet Member endorses the proposed admission arrangements for the interim provision in the Connaught Building for the academic year 2011/12.