Agenda for Children, Young People & Skills Urgency Sub-Committee on Tuesday, 13th June, 2017, 5.30pm

Procedural Business

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(a)      Declaration of Substitutes: Where Councillors are unable to attend a meeting, a substitute Member from the same Political Group may attend, speak and vote in their place for that meeting.

 

(b)      Declarations of Interest:

 

(a)      Disclosable pecuniary interests not registered on the register of interests;

(b)      Any other interests required to be registered under the local code;

(c)      Any other general interest as a result of which a decision on the matter might reasonably be regarded as affecting you or a partner more than a majority of other people or businesses in the ward/s affected by the decision.

 

In each case, you need to declare

(i)        the item on the agenda the interest relates to;

(ii)      the nature of the interest; and

(iii)     whether it is a disclosable pecuniary interest or some other interest.

 

If unsure, Members should seek advice from the committee lawyer or administrator preferably before the meeting.

 

(c)      Exclusion of Press and Public: To consider whether, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted, or the nature of the proceedings, the press and public should be excluded from the meeting when any of the following items are under consideration.

 

NOTE: Any item appearing in Part Two of the Agenda states in its heading the category under which the information disclosed in the report is exempt from disclosure and therefore not available to the public.

 

               A list and description of the exempt categories is available for public inspection at Brighton and Hove Town Halls.

Minutes:

1(a)    Declarations of substitutes

 

1.1         There were none.

 

1(b)    Declarations of interest

 

1.2         There were none.

 

1(c)    Exclusion of press and public

 

1.3         In accordance with section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972 (“the Act”), the Committee considered whether the press and public should be excluded from the meeting during an item of business on the grounds that it was likely, in view of the business to be transacted or the nature of proceedings, that if members of the press and public were present during that item, there would be disclosure to them of confidential information (as defined in section 100A(3) of the Act) or exempt information (as defined in section 100(I) of the Act).

 

1.4         RESOLVED- That the press and public not be excluded

Special Educational Needs and Disability review - proposed closure of Patcham House Community Special School PDF 355 KB

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Report of the Executive Director- Families, Children & Learning (copy attached).

Decision:

1)            That the Urgency Sub- Committee confirm the proposal contained in the statutory notice and make a final decision to close Patcham House Community Special School on 31 August 2018.

Minutes:

2.1         The Urgency Sub-Committee considered a report of the Executive Director Families, Children & Learning that provided feedback from the recent formal representation period following the issue of statutory notices in respect of the proposal to close Patcham House School from 31 August 2018 and sought Member approval for the proposal. The proposal was part of the planned re-design of special school and Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) provision in the city. No representations or communications had been received in response to the publication of Statutory Notices.

 

2.2         Councillor Brown stated that the issue was a sensitive as any proposed closure of schools would be however, enhancements in Special Facilities in mainstream schools and the proposed hubs would be a good thing for all pupils in the city and ensure educational provision could be more sustainable.

 

2.3         Councillor Knight asked for the timeline for the specialist facility and whether it would coincide with the closure of Patcham House.

 

2.4         The Assistant Director, Health, SEN & Disabilities clarified that it was the intention to open a new Special Facility in a mainstream secondary school in September 2018 and negotiations to that end were ongoing. The Assistant Director added that whilst it was at the discretion of the Headteacher, schools had been asked to give priority in recruitment to the existing staff at Patcham House and every effort would be taken by the Council to ensure those staff were retained in the city.

 

2.5         The Chair stated that the issue of closure would always be a difficult and sensitive topic, the plans had were very thorough and would ensure future proofing of the service and benefit schools and pupils throughout the city.

 

2.6         RESOLVED- That the Urgency Sub- Committee confirm the proposal contained in the statutory notice and make a final decision to close Patcham House Community Special School on 31 August 2018.