Issue - items at meetings - Expansion of Balfour Junior School

Report of the Director of Children’s Services (copy attached).

1.       That the proposal to expand Balfour Junior School by one form of entry be noted and endorsed.

2.       That the publication of the required Statutory Notices to progress this proposal be agreed.

3.       That the results from the statutory consultation process be referred to Cabinet Member Meeting on 2 March 2009 for decision. 

60.1    The Cabinet Member considered a report of the Director of Children’s Services concerning the expansion of Balfour Junior School by one form of entry. The report sought the agreement to proceed to the next stage of the statutory process which was the publication of the required statutory notices (for copy see minute book).

60.2    The Opposition Spokesperson stated that she welcomed the standardisation of the forms of entry for both schools. She indicated, however, that as a result of this expansion of Balfour Junior, she had one matter of concern and that was in relation to Hertford Infant and Junior schools. She sought reassurance that careful attention would be given to Hertford schools over this process.

60.3    The Assistant Director, Schools, Central Area and School Support, agreed that Hertford Infant and Junior were the two nearest schools to the Balfour schools.  He explained that officers were currently in conversations with the Hertford schools’ governing body to find out how the schools can be best supported over this process.

60.4    RESOLVED - That, having considered the information and the reasons set out in the report, the Cabinet Member accepted the following recommendations:

(1)      That the proposal to expand Balfour Junior School by one form of entry be noted and endorsed.

(2)      That the publication of the required Statutory Notices to progress this proposal be agreed.

(3)      That the results from the statutory consultation process be referred to Cabinet Member Meeting on 2 March 2009 for decision.