Agenda and minutes

Mr M Northey proposed and Mrs V Dagger seconded that Mr Peter Homewood be elected Vice-Chairman of the Advisory Board.

Carried Unanimously

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meetings held on 29 May and 25 June 2009 be agreed as a true record.

-          Report by Mr Grahame Ward, CFE Director – Resources)

(Mr R Burgess made a declaration of having a personal interest on the grounds that he is a Governor at the Garlinge School)

(1)       This report detailed the results of the public consultation on the proposal to relocate Foreland School and sought the views of the Advisory Board on the issuing of a public notice to relocate the school to purpose built accommodation on the site of Hartsdown Technology College.  An additional paper was circulated at the meeting setting out the views of Mr Roger Gale MP.

(2)       Mr Doole said that the Buildings for the Future Programme would enable the complete re-build of both these schools to a design of the highest quality that would provide outstanding facilities for all pupils.  It was proposed that the two schools would share the same single building, creating a fully inclusive learning community for pupils aged 2 to 19 years with all the necessary safeguards built in.  The proposal was based on the desire of both schools to make available to all their pupils, the widest possible range of educational opportunities and create a fully inclusive learning community and co-location would make available to all students a range of specialist facilities and equipment to which they would not otherwise have access.  The arrangements would also provide wider opportunities for collaborative working and staff development and discussions were taking place with the East Kent PCT and others about locating health and other agency services within the new complex, thereby making available specialist on site facilities for pupils and their families. 

(3)       In response to concerns which had been expressed about possible traffic problems, Mr Doole said that Kent Highway Services had been fully involved with the planning of the project to ensure that potential traffic problems were kept to a minimum.  The increase in the number of students from Foreland would be offset by the planned reduction in the role of Hartsdown as the number of secondary aged students declined over the next few years.  The particular transport needs of Forelands pupils and any increased traffic ensuing from the development of the multi-agency centre would also be structured particularly carefully so that the traffic implications were kept to a minimum.

(3)       Following further discussion, the Advisory Board agreed to support the issuing of a public notice to relocate the Forelands School from its existing site to the proposed site at Hartsdown and that the Cabinet Member be advised accordingly.

-          Report by Director of Operations)

RESOLVED that the contents of the report be noted.