To approve a capital scheme to support the federation of Aylestone Business and Enterprise College and Broadlands Primary school including co-location onto one site thus releasing a council asset for future disposal, avoiding long term maintenance costs and supporting a better use of school revenue funding. To also recommend to Council that provision be made in the capital programme to support this scheme.

The Cabinet Member for Young People and Children’s Wellbeing presented a report asking cabinet to approve the relocation of Broadlands Primary School onto the Aylestone Business and Enterprise College site, at a cost of £1.007m. This would release the Broadlands Primary School site whilst not having the long term maintenance costs of the school.

In answer to a member’s query concerning the need to have Secretary of State permission to sell the Broadlands School site, and if free schools would make this less likely to be given, the Assistant Director, Commissioning and Education observed that fewer free schools are being approved. He went on to confirm he felt there was a strong case for the sale, as the school was not being closed, only relocated; there were improvements being made to buildings; and capital from the sale was being used to make these improvements. The deteriorating state of the school was confirmed.

The Director of Children’s Wellbeing reminded members that the Secretary of State has the power to take over land which has been used for education in the last eight years.

The Chairman confirmed any issue concerning vehicle access to the new site would be looked into as part of the planning process.

A member of the public handed a petition concerning this item to the Cabinet Member for Young People and Children’s Wellbeing.