Minute of Meeting of Executive
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STIRLING COUNCIL MINUTES of MEETING of the EXECUTIVE held in the COUNCIL CHAMBERS, OLD VIEWFORTH, STIRLING on THURSDAY 10 FEBRUARY 2011 at 6.30 PM Present: Councillor Graham HOUSTON (in the Chair) Councillor Alistair BERRILL Councillor Ian BROWN (Substitute) (EX360 – EX362) Councillor Scott FARMER Councillor David GOSS (Substitute) (EX350 – EX354) Mrs Rose HART, Statutory Religious Representative (EX351) Mrs Joan KERR, Statutory Religious Representative (EX351) Councillor Graham LAMBIE Councillor Alasdair MACPHERSON Councillor Corrie MCCHORD Councillor Colin O’BRIEN (Substitute) (EX350 – EX359) Councillor Steven PATERSON Councillor Graham REED Councillor Jim THOMSON In Attendance: Jim Boyle, Chief Accountant, Finance & Procurement Michael Boyle, Interim Business Manager, Education Tony Cain, Head of Housing Liz Duncan, Acting Solicitor to the Council Des Friel, Head of Economy, Employment & Youth Fiona Fulton, Communications Officer, Chief Executive’s Office Bob Gil, Head of Assets, Property & Facilities Management Les Goodfellow, Head of Roads, Transport & Open Space Belinda Greer, Head of Education Janice Hewitt, Assistant Chief Executive, (Care, Health & Wellbeing) Bob Jack, Chief Executive Rebecca Maxwell, Assistant Chief Executive (Sustainability, Economy & Environment) Colin McMenemy, Planning & Performance Officer, Education Katy Oliver, Communications& Marketing Team Leader, Chief Executive’s Office John Risk, Head of Improvement & Customer Service Kevin Robertson, Head of Planning, Regulation & Waste Joanne Scott, Depute Head of Education Kathleen Taylor, Head of Communities & Culture Willie Watson, Head of Finance & Procurement Joyce Allen, Governance (Clerk) EX348 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST Councillors Graham Reed and Jim Thomson declared an interest in respect of Item 17 - Raploch Urban Regeneration Company – Liaison Arrangements, as Council appointed Directors of the Raploch Urban Regeneration Company Board. Councillor Scott Farmer declared an interest in respect of Item 23 – Stirling Development Agency Ltd Kildean Land Purchase, as a Council appointed Director of Stirling Development Agency. EX349 URGENT BUSINESS BROUGHT FORWARD BY THE CHAIR There were no items of urgent business. EX350 MINUTES (a) Executive – 28 October 2010 The Executive agreed to approve the Minutes of Meeting held on 28 October 2010 as a correct record of the proceedings. (b) Special Executive – 14 December 2010 The Executive agreed to approve the Minutes of Special Meeting held on 14 December 2010 as a correct record of the proceedings. EX351 RESULTS OF REVIEW OF EDUCATION PROVISION INVERSNAID AND LOCHEARNHEAD PRIMARY SCHOOLS – PROPOSED CLOSURES On 12 November 2009, the Executive agreed to suspend the operation of Lochearnhead Primary School with all pupils and staff transferring to Strathyre Primary School pending investigation into future options. Subsequently the Executive at its meeting held on 2 September 2010, agreed to start a formal consultation process on the proposal to permanently close Lochearnhead and Inversnaid Primary Schools with effect from 24 June 2011. A report by the Head of Education set out the results of this formal consultation process, which had been undertaken in line with the amended requirements of the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010. Reports on the consultation process and Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education Reports, in relation to both schools, were included as appendices to the submitted report. The Head of Education explained that following the suspension of Lochearnhead Primary School, staff were aligned to other posts for session 2010/11 and confirmed that the permanent closure of the school would have no further impact on staff. In respect of Inversnaid Primary School, the roll of the school had declined over recent years and currently sat at two pupils who were siblings. The Head of Education indicated that the proposal to close the school and transfer the pupils to Aberfoyle Primary School was based on the grounds of educational benefit with pupils having more opportunity for discussion, sharing ideas and peer interaction. In response to a question on school transport, the Head of Education confirmed that a number of other children already travelled on the category 2 route from Inversnaid to Aberfoyle. Members were advised that a decision to proceed with the closure of either school could be subject to a call-in notice from Scottish Ministers. Decision The Executive agreed:- 1. to permanently close Lochearnhead Primary School on 24 June 2011 and amend the catchment area of Strathyre Primary School to include the catchment area of Lochearnhead Primary School; 2. to permanently close Inversnaid Primary School on 24 June 2011 and amend the catchment area of Aberfoyle Primary School to include the catchment area of Inversnaid Primary School; 3. to note that the Education Service would vacate the buildings and that Assets, Property and Facilities Management would manage the future use of the buildings, including potential disposal. (Reference: Report by Head of Education dated 24 January 2011, submitted). EX352 PLACING REQUESTS – RESERVED PLACES A report by the Head of Education identified the number of places calculated as requiring to be reserved in Stirling’s schools during the academic session 2011/12 to ensure sufficient provision for children at their local catchment schools. The Head of Service advised that, under the terms of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980, parents had the right to request that their child attend a school of their choice other than the local catchment school. The Education (Scotland) Act 1996 as amended by the Standards in Scotland’s Schools etc. Act 2000 gave local authorities the power to reserve places at specific schools for children who moved into school catchment areas after enrolment had been completed. These reserved places might be allocated to particular year stages by the Head of Education, or nominated officer. Members were advised that Stirling Council’s placing request policy took account of reserved places. The submitted report updated the Reserved Places position for the academic session 2011/12. Appendix 1 to the submitted report provided a list of schools at which reserved places were recommended with further background information provided at Appendix 2. The Executive was requested to approve the recommended places set out in Appendix 1 and to delegate authority to the Head of Education to determine allocation of reserved places at specific year stages in each school. Decision The Executive agreed:- 1. to approve the recommended places to be reserved for catchment area children for session 2011/2012 in the schools listed in Appendix 1 to the submitted report; 2. to delegate authority to the Head of Education to determine allocation of reserved places at specific year stages in each school. (Reference: Report by Head of Education dated 24 January 2011, submitted). EX353 NEW COUNCIL HOUSING IN GARGUNNOCK - CONSULTATION AND OPTION APPRAISAL OUTCOME In August 2008, the Executive agreed to promote the Leckie Road site in Gargunnock for new Council housing. Following this decision, the Housing Service secured funding and prepared proposals for the site for discussion with the local community. A report by the Head of Housing advised that those discussions had demonstrated opposition to the development of the Leckie Road site from some local residents. In response to a decision by Council in May 2010, a detailed consultation process on alternatives to the Leckie Road site and option appraisal of the site and alternatives in the village had been carried out. Details of this consultation process, including alternative sites at Station Road/Charles Street North and The Glebe/Charles Street South, and the wording of the consultation letter, were agreed with the Community Council. The results of the survey presented a mixed picture, although there was general acceptance of the need for new Council Housing in the village, which reinforced the results of an earlier survey carried out by the Community Council. The Head of Housing explained that a significant number of residents objected to each site, however, the Leckie Road site was the least popular of the three options with residents. Waiting list applicants were more strongly in favour of development but the Leckie Road site was also the least preferred. Details of the consultation material, an outcome report and comments made by respondents were set out in Appendices 2, 3 and 4 to the submitted report. Members were advised that the technical appraisal, as detailed in Appendix 5 to the submitted report, had identified significant constraints on the development of both the Station Road/Charles Street North and the Glebe/Charles Street South sites. Both sites were within the flood risk area and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) had indicated that it would object to both sites on the ground of flood risk. A copy of their response was attached as Appendix 1. The final results of both the technical assessment and the consultation had been discussed with Gargunnock Community Council and the Housing Advisory Group and their views were set out in the report. The Community Council’s comments and the Council’s response were also set out in Appendices 6 and 7 to the report. The approval of the Executive was sought to proceed with the development, subject to achieving a design that addressed the road safety and access issues to the satisfaction of the Planning Panel and the Roads Authority. It was noted