Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors F. Hussain, Jabbar, Toor and Ur-Rehman.

In the absence of Councillor Toor, Councillor Malik chaired the meeting.  

There were no items of urgent business received.

There were no declarations of interest received.

Two public questions had been submitted by Mr. Mohibur Rahman via email for this evening’s meeting. The questions were:

“1. What is Oldham council doing to invite/engage MATs with suitable experience of running successful inner city multicultural schools/academies to bid for the new Free School under discussion, or is it a foregone conclusion?

2. What is the council doing to address the unjust admissions policy it is administering on behalf of academies that have made it policy to not give equal and fair access to all residents of Oldham, but rather discriminate by ward which then indirectly discriminates by ethnicity?  By moving most good schools into the Broadway corridor and then making distance from school one of the top criteria is complete injustice.  Some wards have access to several good schools, other have none.”

The Chair explained that the Director of Education and Early Years had been invited to attend this evening’s meeting to provide an update on the provision of secondary school places in Oldham town centre. The content of the presentation should address the issues raised by Mr. Rahman via his two questions.

The Minutes of the West Oldham District Executive meeting held on 13^th June 2018 are attached for approval.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the West Oldham District Executive meeting held on 13^th June 2018 be approved as a correct record.

Consideration was given to a presentation of the Director of Education and Early Years regarding the provision and allocation of secondary school places in Oldham.

The Director of Education and Early Years was accompanied by the Education Provision Manager who provided information concerning Oldham’s demographics and the geography of demand for school places in the Borough.

It was explained that during the last few years, the Council had expanded the number of places available to pupils in primary schools to meet the increase in demand. Currently, the demand for primary school places was projected in East Oldham and Chadderton; this was due to the fact that new generations seemed to move to these areas. Consequently, feasibility studies were ongoing to evaluate the option of creating one new form entry in Chadderton and two new form entries in East Oldham.

With regard to the expansion of secondary school places, it was reported that a sharp increase in demand had been felt for the first time last year. Consequently, two full year groups Year 7 and Year 8 would be accommodated at Oasis Academy Leesbrook’s temporary building from September this year, before a brand new purpose-built school would open in 2020. However, according to demand projection, in 2022, the Borough would still be short of secondary school places in East and West Oldham. As the Department of Education had reopened Free School applications, it was hoped that a successful Multi Academy Trust (MAT) would make an application for a new secondary school expected to reopen in 2022. The Council had been in discussion with a number of MATS and was currently considering appropriate sites for a new secondary school in the centre of Oldham. Appraised sites would be brought to the attention of the Cabinet Members for their consideration.

The District Executive was informed that there were several Trusts interested in building new schools in Oldham. However, the School Commissioner would favourably look at those applications supported by the Local Authority.

A report would be presented to Cabinet within the next four – six weeks. By January 2019 it would be possible to know whether the application has been accepted. The building would be in Central Oldham to respond to the challenges identified.

With regard to the admission policy and the concerns raised by Mr. Rahman in his second question, a meeting would take place tomorrow morning with the Cranmer Education Trust; the instance for greater transparency in their admission policy would be reinforced.

Members sought and received clarification / commented on the following points:

-       Primary expansion and reliability of data analysis about areas with the highest projected demand for primary school places. Members explained that there was no more capacity for school places in Werneth and this was having an effect in Chadderton (new housing development in Werneth) – It was explained that data had been provided by Business Intelligence that had looked at demographics and housing development in Foxdenton, Chadderton.

-       Hathershaw College’s amendments to its admission policy and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

RESOLVED that, in the absence of the relevant officer, the report be deferred to the next meeting of the District Executive.

Consideration was given to a report of the West Oldham District Coordinator which sought approval of the district priorities for 2018-20. The report also required agreement of the funding allocations for alleygating in Medlock Vale and Werneth, the maintenance of sports resources in Fitton Hill and grit bin refills in the three wards.

It was reported that, in addition to the district priorities identified in 2016, some emerging priorities were being considered:

1.    Access to school places for families living in West Oldham;

2.    Demand for affordable housing in West Oldham;

3.    Review of community facilities in Werneth;

4.    Drug dealing and associated crimes.

RESOLVED that:

1.    The content of the report e noted;

2.    The district priorities for 2018-20 be agreed;

3.    The allocation of £3,160 revenue funding (Coldhurst, Medlock Vale and Werneth wards) be agreed for grit bin refills;

4.     The allocation of £ 20,000 capital funding (Medlock Vale and Werneth wards) be agreed for alleygating;

5.    The allocation of £2,772 revenue funding (Medlock Vale ward) be agreed to support Fitton Hill and Hathershaw Bulldogs.

There were no new petitions to note.

The next meeting of West Oldham District Executive will take place on Wednesday 10^th October 2018 at 6pm  

RESOLVED that the next meeting of the West Oldham District Executive take place on Wednesday 10^th October 2018 at 6 p.m.