Agenda item

Consider joint report by Interim Service Director Children and Young People and Service Director Assets & Infrastructure.  (Copy attached.)

15.1  With reference to paragraph 8 of the Minute of 26 April 2018, there had been circulated copies of a joint report by the Interim Service Director Children & Young People and Service Director Assets & Infrastructure providing an update of the continuing progress that had been made regarding the development of Individualised Strategic Plans for the school communities in Galashiels, Hawick, Peebles and Selkirk and recommended the next steps to be undertaken.  In April 2018, Members approved the creation of Individualised Strategic Plans for Galashiels Academy, Hawick High School, Peebles High School and Selkirk High School.  The report detailed the education models that were currently being considered; provided copies of the analysis that had been carried out regarding sites in Galashiels and Hawick; recommended the next steps to be undertaken in respect of each Plan, including the further engagement that was required with the wider communities; summarised the work carried out in each of the secondary schools that was planned for future maintenance; provided indicative costs and timetabling for the delivery of either a new secondary school or campus model in each of the 4 communities; and recommended a priority and sequence of investment across the 4 communities.  Members had previously agreed that Hawick and Galashiels were both priorities for investment.  Accordingly, architects had been appointed to prepare an Options Analysis for each town - considering the available sites that could accommodate either a new secondary school and/or a campus and to provide schematics of how the accommodation could fit for each model.  The Options Appraisal Reports for Galashiels and Hawick were attached as Appendices 2 and 3to the report.  While both Galashiels and Hawick High Schools were both classed as Grade C in relation to Condition under the Core Facts data, Galashiels would require significantly more financial investment on an element by element fabric basis in order to remain a fully functioning asset with no impact on the delivery of the curriculum.  It was therefore recommended that Galashiels was the first priority for investment given the current condition and suitability of the existing school in relation of the rest of the estate. Members discussed the proposals in detail and were divided regarding the priority order and timescales for the replacements of the four high schools.  Councillor McAteer proposed an amendment which required a final report to be brought to Council in March 2018.  The Chief Executive advised that until a meeting with the Scottish Government regarding future funding had been held it was not possible to meet that timescale.

         The Convener adjourned the meeting for 10 minutes to allow the wording of the amendment to be agreed.

15.2  VOTE

         Councillor McAteer, seconded by Councillor Paterson, moved that the vote be taken by roll call and this was unanimously agreed.

Councillor Hamilton, seconded by Councillor Edgar, moved the recommendations contained in the report.

         Councillor McAteer, seconded by Councillor Marshall, moved as an amendment that the recommendations at paragraph 2.1 be replaced as follows:-

         “that elected members note the report and appendices and agree that a further more detailed report be brought to Council in March 2019 following Member briefings and after effective community engagement had been completed.”

         The Motion was accordingly carried by 17 votes to 16.

         DECISION

         DECIDED to:-

          (a)     approve the recommendations regarding the proposed next steps for the Individualised Strategic Plan of each of the schools;

          (b)     Agree the proposed indicative sequence and priority for investment as:

1.         Galashiels

2.         Hawick

3.         Selkirk

4.         Peebles;

(c)     note the on-going improvement and maintenance works undertaken to date and planned for future; and

(d)     note that a further report would be prepared and presented to Members setting out a detailed delivery programme and the financial implications of progressing Galashiels as a first priority.  The timescale of that report would be dependent upon further community consultation regarding the preferred education model and discussions on funding with Scottish Government and Scottish Futures Trust.