Agenda item

Purpose: to propose:

(1) the transfer of the former primary school site in Theale (the former site) to WBC from the Oxford Diocese Trustees (the Diocese); and

(2) the long term future use of the site as the location of a provision for secondary aged children with SEMH/ASD needs.

Resolved delegate to the Service Director for Strategy and Governance, in consultation with the Head of Finance & Property and the Head of Education, having first consulted the Executive Portfolio Holder for Children, Young People and Education and the Executive Portfolio Holder for Finance and Economic Development to enter into appropriate legal documentation for the acquisition of the former site from the Diocese, subject to agreement and for the purposes described below:

a)    Subject to transfer of the former site to WBC, the site be allocated for the purposes of a provision for secondary aged children with SEMH/ASD needs.

b)    That the SEMH/ASD be the primary and sole purpose for the former site, but the design development ensure efficient use of the former site.

This decision is eligible to be ‘called-in’.  However, if the decision has not been ‘called-in’ by 5.00pm on 25 October 2021, then it will be implemented.

The Executive considered a report (Agenda item 8) which proposed: (1) the transfer of the former primary school site in Theale (the former site) to WBC from the Oxford Diocese Trustees (the Diocese) and (2) the long term future use of the Site as the location of a provision for secondary aged children with SEMH/ASD needs.

Councillor Dominic Boeck noted the opening of two new primary schools at the start of the current academic year, Highwood Copse and Theale Primary. He also outlined the benefits of creating additional local SEMH and Autism provision at the old Theale Primary School site in terms of costs and quality of provision.

Councillor Erik Pattenden was happy to support the proposal as there was a clear need for the additional provision. However, he wanted to know why it had taken so long to develop proposals and why the Council had waited until there was a vacant school property to make use of. Councillor Boeck explained that suitable premises were hard to come by and creating them from scratch was far more costly than reusing something which was already there.

Councillor Alan Macro was also in favour of the proposals as there was a clear need and some students had long journeys out of the area to get the support they needed. He asked that the existing modular buildings, which were nearing the end of their planning permission, be taken out of use in the near future. Councillor Boeck said that he would pass on the request to officers to ensure it was expedited when the project moved forward. Councillor Macro also asked that local social groups such as the Holy Trinity Church continue to be allowed to use the site for social events as they were important to the local community. Councillor Boeck thought it likely that it would not be possible to use the site during its development and was not certain that it would remain a suitable site for social events once the development was completed. He agreed to look into whether it would be possible.

Councillor Lee Dillon noted that one of the options in the report involved the company he worked for but had not declared the interest as it was not the option favoured by the Executive and so unlikely to be taken up. He agreed that it was beneficial to have provision within the district but was concerned that due to the geography of the West Berkshire area, students living close to the borders might find the journey to the new site longer than when they were travelling out of the area and so wanted to know what percentage of students might have longer journeys. Councillor Boeck pointed out that SEN children have very individual needs and so distance was not always the deciding factor when deciding which facility was best for each student. Some students might not be able to get the right support at the closest site. Councillor Dillon also asked if there would be capacity to sell places to other authorities. Councillor Boeck said that it was not a part of the current funding model but they were always open to new opportunities.

Councillor Owen Jeffrey expressed his support for the proposals but also his disappointment that it had not been put in place sooner. Councillor Doherty pointed out that there were already similar existing facilities, such as Engaging Potential and that the demand for SEN provision had outgrown what was already in place rather than there having been no investment in provision prior to the new proposal.

Councillor Jo Stewart was pleased to see such support for the proposals. She noted the additional value of having good SEN provision for young adults as it would put them in a better position to be ready to transition successfully to Adult Social Care, if they needed it, later on.

Recommendations (Vote to be taken in Part 2):

It was recommended that the Executive resolve to delegate to the Service Director for Strategy and Governance, in consultation with the Head of Finance & Property and the Head of Education, having first consulted the Executive Portfolio Holder for Children, Young People and Education and the Executive Portfolio Holder for Finance and Economic Development to enter into appropriate legal documentation for the acquisition of the former site from the Diocese, subject to agreement and for the purposes described below:

a)    Subject to transfer of the former site to WBC, the site be allocated for the purposes of a provision for secondary aged children with SEMH/ASD needs.

b)    That the SEMH/ASD be the primary and sole purpose for the former site, but the design development ensure efficient use of the former site.