Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Chauhan.

Councillors Fielding, Jabbar and Shah declared a personal interest in Items 8 and 11 by virtue of their Council appointment to the Foxdenton Development Board.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 16^th September 2019 are attached for approval.

RESOLVED - That the minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 16^th September be approved as a correct record.

Consideration was given to a report of the Director of Education and Skills and Early Years which sought approval of the draft Education Provision Strategy 2020/24 and delegated authority to update the strategy annually in line with demographic and place pressures during the period the strategy was in place.

The strategy provided the context and policy for the provision of education places for children and young people aged 2-19 including both mainstream school paces and SEND.

It was reported that the Council had a statutory duty to ensure there were enough school places available to local children and young people. The Current process or approving and the establishment of new provision was in comparison to other Greater Manchester Authorities was lengthy and time consuming. A new process of approving schools and expansions was contained within the strategy.

Options/alternatives considered

Option 1 - Adopt the Education Provision Strategy as appended to this report.  The strategy reflected the Council’s position to provide high quality places and provision.

Option 2 - Suggest amendments to the strategy as presented.  This was not a recommended option as the strategy had been developed to address the most pressing requirements in the Borough.

Option 3 - Decide not to adopt the strategy, which would leave the council vulnerable in implementing its statutory duty to provide enough school places.

RESOLVED – That:

1.    The Education Provision Strategy 2020-2024 be approved and adopted.

2.    Authority be delegated to the responsible Cabinet Member and the responsible Director to update the strategy annually in line with demographic and place pressures during the period that the strategy was in place.

Consideration was given to a report of the Director of Economy which sought to update the Cabinet on works required to be carried out by the Council in support of the replacement Saddleworth School on the former WH Shaw site.

Further to reports considered by the Cabinet on the 21^st July 2014 and 30^th March 2015, a revised cost of the scheme was provided to Members and approval was sought to delegate the negotiation and agreement of the updated Head of Terms for the land transaction to the Deputy Chief Executive in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills and the Leader.

Options/alternatives considered

Option 1 – To agree the recommendations as detailed within the report.

Option 2 – Not to agree the recommendations as detailed within the report.

RESOLVED – That the Cabinet would consider the commercially sensitive information as detailed at Item 10 before making a decision.

Councillors Fielding, Jabbar and Shah declared a personal interest in Items 8 and 11 by virtue of their Council appointment to the Foxdenton Development Board.

Consideration was given to a report of the Deputy Chief Executive, People and Place which sought to update the Cabinet on the progress made regarding the Broadway Green Development and sought approval to the provision of a commercial loan to the Joint Venture company delivering the project.

The Broadway Green Development was being promoted by a Joint Venture partnership between Oldham Council, Grasscroft Property and Seddon Construction. The site had detailed planning consent for a new link road and the first two residential phases of the development.

Most of the link road from Foxdenton Lane had been constructed and the next and final phase of the development was the construction of the new Broadway Junction. Prior to the start of the works, Highways England required a bond which they would hold and utilise to cover the cost of any works if there was an issue that required attention.

On completion, the new junction, would become adopted highway and the responsibility of Highways England.

Options/alternatives

As detailed in the commercially sensitive report at Item 11

RESOLVED – That the Cabinet would consider the commercially sensitive information as detailed at Item 11 before a decision.

That, in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they contain exempt information under paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, and it would not, on balance, be in the public interest to disclose the reports.

RESOLVED that, in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they contain exempt information under paragraphs 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, and it would not, on balance, be in the public interest to disclose the reports.

The Cabinet gave considered the commercially sensitive information in relation to Item 7 – Saddleworth School Update.

RESOLVED – That the recommendations as detailed in the commercially sensitive report be approved.

The Cabinet considered the commercially sensitive information in relation to Item 8 – Broadway Green – Construction of New Link Road.

RESOLVED – That the recommendations as detailed in the commercially sensitive report be approved.