The Director of Children’s Services reported upon statutory consultations which had been held for the proposal to relocate Gilbrook Special School to the former site of Arrowe Hill Primary School.

The Governing body of Gilbrook School, a special school with 50 places for primary age pupils with emotional and behavioural issues, had expressed an interest in relocating to larger premises with improved facilities to carry out additional behaviour support work to mainstream schools. The school was currently located in a semi-industrial area on Pilgrim Street, Birkenhead, but served pupils from the entire Wirral area. A Sports Barn was located on the Gilbrook site.

Relocating to the former Arrowe Hill Primary School, Glebe Hey Road, Woodchurch, which had closed on 31 August 2009, as a result of Phase 4 of the Primary Places Review, would increase the net floor area available to Gilbrook by a third, and although the school would no longer have access to the Sports Barn, the total site area available to the school would triple including a substantial increase in hard and soft play area. The Authority would retain the former Infant building for storage purposes.

At its meeting on 28 May 2009 (minute 9 refers) Cabinet had instructed that a formal consultation should be carried out with various stakeholders. Consultation had ended on 31 July 2009 and details of the outcome were given in the report.

The 2009/10 Schools Capital programme approved by Cabinet on 28 May 2009 included £200,000 to facilitate the move to the former Arrowe Hill building.

Resolved –

(1) That statutory proposals be published in respect of the statutory alteration to transfer the site of Gilbrook Special School to the former site of Arrowe Hill Primary School.

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

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COUNCILLOR HOLBROOK IN THE CHAIR