Decision details

The report of the Head of Learning incorporating the Full Business Case for a new primary school to replace Ysgol Bodffordd and Ysgol Corn Hir was presented for the Executive’s consideration.

Having declared a personal and prejudicial interest in this item, Councillor Richard Dew withdrew from the meeting during the consideration and determination thereof.

The Head of Learning reported that the Full Business Case sets out the strategic, economic, commercial, financial and managerial justification for the proposal. Also included are the specifications for the new school and the project management and completion timescale. Welsh Government approval of the Full Business Case will secure 50% of the finance for the project. The Officer said Ysgol Henblas was part of the decision taken by the Executive on 30 April, 2018 to approve Option 2 whereby a new school for Bodffordd and Corn Hir schools would be built and an educational provision would be maintained in Llangristiolus either by maintaining Ysgol Henblas in its current form or by merging it with the new school to form a multi-site school. This decision depended on assurance being received that standards at Ysgol Henblas are improving and that pupil numbers remain constant. The outcome of an Estyn re-inspection of the school in October, 2018 confirms that progress has been made against the recommendations of the original inspection of May, 2017; also projections for pupil numbers indicate that these will remain constant over the next 3 years. The Authority therefore feels that it has had assurance with regard to improving standards and the stability of pupil numbers at Ysgol Henblas to enable the school to be removed from the proposal.

Councillor Dylan Rees reported from the Corporate Scrutiny Committee’s meeting of the 19 March, 2019 at which the Full Business Case was discussed. The Committee was updated on, and noted the ways in which the Full Business Case addresses the matters which it had previously raised at the Strategic Outline Case stage in relation to highway and parking sufficiency issues; traffic and road safety issues in the vicinity of the new school; the future of Canolfan Bodffordd as a community resource and the affordability of the proposal. The Committee also noted the improved position at Ysgol Henblas and as a result of the information and clarifications received, it recommended approval of the Full Business Case and the removal of Ysgol Henblas from the proposal.

The Interim Head of Highways, Waste and Property outlined the traffic management arrangements in the vicinity of the new school.

It was resolved –

•           To approve the Full Business Case (FBC) for the new primary school to replace Ysgol Bodffordd and Ysgol Corn Hir.

•           To approve the submission of the Full Business Case to Welsh Government.

•           To approve ring-fencing capital receipts for the construction of the new primary school, subject to no problems arising with selling the site(s).

•           That Ysgol Henblas be removed from the proposal because it is judged that standards at the school have improved and that the number of pupils at the school remains constant.