West Oldham District Partnership
Building Schools for the Future and Academies Programme: The Oldham Academy North.
Report of Executive Director of Economy Place and Skills.
Portfolio Responsibility: Economy Place and Skills.
19 January 2011
Officer Contact : Nick Andrews Ext. [5143]
1. Executive Summary
1.1 To provide information on the programme and proposals for consultation for the proposed Oldham Academy North, Royton.
2. Recommendations
2.1 To note the programme for securing final financial closure.
2.2 To approve the proposed pre planning application programme of proposed consultation events.
3. Purpose of Report.
3.1 To outline the programme to secure planning permission and final financial approval for the proposed new Oldham Academy North on the existing Our Lady’s RC School site, Broadway, Royton.
3.2 To consult the District Partnership on the proposed pre planning consultation proposals for the proposed new Oldham Academy North on the existing Our Lady’s RC School site, Broadway, Royton.
East Oldham District Partnership. 22 March 2010 Building Schools for the Future and Academies Programme: Waterhead Academy. 4. Building Schools for the Future.
4.1 The District Partnership will be aware that the Council and its partners have received approval to progress with proposals for three academies and two secondary schools.
4.2 Members will be aware that in West Oldham St Augustine’s RC School will close and together with Our Lady’s RC School Royton will relocate to the new RC School, Broadway, Chadderton. Planning permission for the new school was granted at Planning Committee on the 11 November 2010.
4.3 The former Grange School, now The Oldham Academy North will relocate to the Our Lady’s RC School, Broadway.
5. The Oldham Academy North Programme.
5.1 The procurement of the three Academies in Oldham has been approved by Partnership for Schools (PfS) to be undertaken through the PfS National Framework for Academies rather than the BSF delivery vehicle. Following the competitive bidding process Willmott Dixon have been appointed as developer.
5.2 It is proposed that the new academy building will be commenced in July 2011 with completion and occupation in September 2013.
5.3 In order to achieve this timetable it is necessary to submit a Final Business Case in June 2011, and planning approval for the scheme must be in place A planning application will therefore be submitted to the authority in March 2011.
6. Proposed Consultation.
6.1 It is proposed that prior to the submission of a planning application local residents and users of the proposed Academy have an opportunity to view and comment on the emerging scheme.
6.2 I am proposing that community engagement events take place as follows:
21 st March 2011 11.30am – 2.45pm at The Oldham Academy North
22 nd March 2011 3.15pm – 5.00pm at The Oldham Academy North
23 rd March 2011 5.00pm – 7.00pm at a venue to be agreed.
The suggested venues include: (i) Our Lady’s RC School (ii) St Oswald’s and Aiden’s School (iii) St Anne’s School
6.3 All these engagement events will be run as drop in sessions with officers and partner organisations in attendance to answer queries and receive feedback on the scheme proposals. The first two are aimed at pupils, parents/carers, staff
Page 2 of 4Building Schools for the Future and Academies Programme: Oldham Academy North 19 January 2011 and governors and the feeder school pupils and parents/carers. They will take place during the day, whilst the third will be an evening event aimed primarily at, although not exclusively, local residents within the vicinity of the proposed new Academy. Anyone interested can attend any of the events. Further publicity will be given nearer the time.
6.4 Councillors will be invited to attend a briefing session to view the detail of the design prior to the community engagement events proposed in 6.3 above.
6.5 Further opportunities to comment on the scheme proposals will be available through the formal planning consultation process.
7. OPTIONS/ALTERNATIVES
7.1 The following options were considered:
(i) to not undertake any consultation prior to submission of the planning application. (ii) to delay submission of the planning application to allow further time for pre planning consultation.
7.2 These options were discounted for the following reasons: (i) whilst it is not a requirement to undertake pre planning consultation, it is considered good practice. (ii) to delay submission of the planning application is not a practical option if the Council is to secure the necessary approvals to enable implementation.
8. PREFERRED OPTION
8.1 The preferred option is as outlined in the report.
9. CONSULTATION
9.1 This report sets out the proposed consultation for the scheme.
10 LEGAL IMPLICATIONS
11 FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
11.1
12 HUMAN RESOURCES COMMENTS
12.1 N/A
13 RISK ASSESSMENTS
13.1 N/A
Page 3 of 4Building Schools for the Future and Academies Programme: Oldham Academy North 19 January 2011 14 IT IMPLICATIONS
14.1 N/A
15 PROPERTY IMPLICATIONS
15.1 N/A
16 PROCUREMENT IMPLICATIONS
16.1 N/A
17 ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH & SAFETY IMPLICATIONS
17.1 N/A
18 COMMUNITY COHESION IMPLICATIONS [INCLUDING CRIME & DISORDER IMPLICATIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 17 OF THE ACT] AND EQUALITIES IMPLICATIONS
18.1 N/A
19 FORWARD PLAN REFERENCE
19.1 N/A
20 KEY DECISION
20.1 No
21 BACKGROUND PAPERS
21. None
Page 4 of 4Building Schools for the Future and Academies Programme: Oldham Academy North 19 January 2011