Decision details

To report on the outcome of the consultation.

Decision

1.    That, following public consultation on the future use of the former St Mary’s School site, the consultation report be noted and that the Council’s preferred option for the use of the site proceed;

2.    That the Business Plan to use the site as an independent special school for children and young people of Dorset and the longer-term vision, be approved;

3.    That the formation of a company limited by shares and the entry into such ancillary legal documentation, as may be necessary in line with the proposed scope contained in the Business Plan, be approved;

4.      That the granting of indemnities for personal liability incurred by council officers acting in the role of directors of the company, be approved;

5.    That Cabinet agrees to the granting of a lease of the site to the company on terms to be approved by the Executive Director for Place in consultation with the Executive Director for People – Children’s; and that service agreements between the Council and the company to deliver the Business Plan on terms to be approved by the Executive Director for People - Children's.

6.    That authority be delegated the Portfolio Holder for Children, Education, Skills and Early Help in consultation with the Executive Director for People – Children’s to deliver the Dorset Council actions within the Business Plan.

Reason for the decision 1:   
The consultation on the future use of the former St Mary’s School site received 1,427 responses from a wide variety of individuals and organisations. Nearly 90% of responses came from Dorset Council residents, including 32% of responses which came from local residents (within 3 miles of the site).

There was overwhelming support for the St Marys site to continue to be used for educational purposes, with 92% overall in favour. In addition, there was very strong support for specifically using St Marys as a school for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) with 89% overall in favour alongside 82% of respondents that signalled strong support for the additional use of the St Mary’s site to create complementary facilities for vulnerable children, young people and adults.

This demonstrated strong support to deliver the Council’s preferred option to create a new independent school for children and young people of Dorset with SEND.

Reason for the decision 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6
In order to deliver the Council’s preferred option, a detailed 5-year Business Plan has been completed setting out the next steps the Council will need to take to establish a Company to operate the new independent special school alongside the longer-term vision for the site and arrangements for the land to be used by the Company. The Business Plan sets out that a Company that will be set up for the purposes of operating the site and school, and this will be through the formation of Company Limited by Shares (which may be established as a standard or Community Interest Company). Approval of this decision allows the named Members and Officers with delegated authority to deliver the Business Plan to achieve the challenging timescales for delivery. Further leadership and governance would be provided by the St Mary’s Project Board Chaired by the Chief Executive and Vice Chaired by the Executive Director of Corporate Development.