To approve the building of a new school for Colwall Church of England Primary School at the identified site of Mill Lane, Colwall.  This will include the purchase of land to enable building to take place and associated works to fulfil planning and transport requirements.

The Cabinet member, health and wellbeing presented a report to approve the building of a new school for Colwall Church of England Primary School at the identified site of Mill Lane, Colwall, which included the purchase of land to enable building to take place and associated works to fulfil planning and transport requirements.

In the ensuing discussion, the following points were raised:

That the landowner was aware of the proposal to build a school and that he was keen to support the community by facilitating the purchase. A draft heads of terms and options agreement were in hand.

The cabinet member, health and wellbeing said that she supported this initiative, especially as it would be next to the village hall, allowing for joint use and support for the hall.

In reply to a question from a Group Leader, the Head of Educational Development said that the true costs for the project would become clearer once all tenders had been received.  The Education Funding Agency (EFA), could not formally proceed until the land had been secured.  The site was 3.1 acres in size.

That the Trust who held the existing site had agreed that sale of that site would go toward the cost of the new school.

Resolved:

That:

(a)          a new primary school for Colwall be located on the Mill Lane site identified in appendix 1; the purchase of land at the Mill Lane site at a cost of £1.2m, be agreed, subject to planning consent being secured;

(b)         the building of a one form entry primary school for Colwall including associated works to fulfil planning and transport requirements and fees at a cost of up to £5.1m be approved conditional on planning consent being secured;

(c)         the payment of an option agreement fee of £50,000, included in the estimated £1.2m for purchase of land, to secure the land sale be made; and;

(d)         authority be delegated to the director for children’s wellbeing to take all operational decisions necessary to implement the above recommendations within the budget agreed.