Update and outcome of public notice to relocate Foxfield School

Foxfield School was located on Douglas Drive, Moreton, and was a local authority maintained special school for boys and girls aged 11 to 19, who had statements of special educational needs because of complex learning difficulties.  The national Priority School Building Programme had given the Council the opportunity to rebuild Foxfield School at a cost in the region of £7.5m. The current school had not been purpose built, and increasingly was not fit for purpose and the site was too small for a large construction project to be undertaken, whilst the school and its pupils remained in its current building.

Councillor Tony Smith introduced a report by the Director of Children’s Services which reminded the Cabinet that at its meeting on 11 July 2013 it had made the decision that, following consultation with governing bodies, staff, parents and other stakeholders, statutory notices should be published regarding the proposed relocation of Foxfield Special School from its current site in Moreton to Woodchurch. 

The Notices had been published on 17 July 2013.  The Director’s report detailed the outcome of the subsequent representation period and recommended that the proposal be approved. 

Councillor Tony Smith praised the work that Officers had carried out in order to secure the £7.5m grant for the School.  He informed that when the new School was built it would be available for community use. 

Councillor Phil Davies congratulated and also thanked all the Officers who had been involved.  He told the Cabinet that it was an excellent project that would provide youngsters with a high quality education.

RESOLVED: That:

(1)  the statutory proposed alteration to transfer the site of Foxfield School from its current site in Moreton to the proposed site at Carr Bridge Road, Woodchurch, be approved; and

{This recommendation is conditional to the grant of Planning Permission under Part 3 of The Town and Country Planning Act 1990 by November 2014.}

(2)  the Director of Children’s Services be authorised to take all necessary steps to ensure the prescribed procedures are followed, including requesting permissions from the Secretary of State in furtherance of the proposal.