To consider the attached report on the above.

The Council considered the submitted report which provides an update on pupil forecasts and proposes changes to capital funding priorities for Children's Services in respect of primary school provision.  A revised officer recommendation was circulated at the meeting.

It was proposed by Councillor Pritchard and seconded by Councillor Excell:

(i)              that £750,000 identified from savings within the Children’s Services Capital Programme be allocated to the Brookfield House acquisition and associated development;

(ii)             that the proposed capital projects at St Margaret’s Academy and Roselands Primary be cancelled;

(iii)            that the £3m already allocated to Children’s Services for primary provision be allocated to the relocation of Torbay School;

(iv)           that the Schools Capital & Planning Manager commence discussions and consultation with providers, stakeholders and the Department for Education regarding the competition for a new primary school in Paignton;

(v)            that the Council notes that future Basic Need funding will be needed for the new primary school in Paignton and for any additional secondary provision required.  A further report to Council will follow once funding allocations are known and there is feedback from the consultation process;

(vi)           that an additional £400,000 from the 2015/16 Local Authority Capital Maintenance Fund be allocated to a third phase of improvements at Furzeham Primary School;

(vii)          that, subject to (i) above, the Mayor be recommended to acquire Brookfield House to improve the facilities at Torbay School; and

(viii)        that the Mayor be recommended to rescind the decision in Minute 18(ii)/5/14 to dispose of Hillside former children’s home and land adjoining South Parks Road, Torquay (Plan Ref EM2390) to enable that land be utilised for the relocation of Torbay School.

On being put to the vote, the motion was declared carried

The Mayor considered the recommendations of the Council set out in (vii) and (viii) above at the meeting and the record of his decision together with further information is attached to these Minutes.