Decision details

The Temporary Service Director of 21st Century Schools and Transformation presented the report, which sought Cabinet approval to begin the relevant and required statutory consultation for the proposal to carry out a regulated alteration to Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Llyn-y-Forwyn (“YGG Llyn-y-Forwyn”), by way of transferring the school to a new building on a new site.

The Service Director explained that YGG Llyn-y-Forwyn was one of the Council’s poorest buildings, with a building condition grading of ‘D’ and a maintenance backlog in excess of £1.01Million. It was explained that the building was not accessible and as such not compliant with the Equality Act 2010. Furthermore, the opportunities for outdoor play were limited, with no external green spaces available and all of the hard play areas affected by the sloping topography. 

In order to address the issues, the Service Director proposed a new Welsh medium primary school be created on a new site, with an investment in the region of £8.5Million to improve and expand facilities. The investment would include:

·         modern, flexible learning environments for all learners, a hall/dining area, and a multi-purpose learning resource area;

·         accessible internal and external facilities for wider community use;

·         enhanced outdoor spaces to support the full range of curriculum activities, including an outdoor classroom and a ‘forest schools ’area; and,

·         improved traffic management including on site pupil bus drop off, and on site staff parking.

The Service Director advised that the catchment area of YGG Llyn-y-Forwyn would not be altered and the proposal would create additional Welsh medium capacity within the Rhondda Fach area of Rhondda Cynon Taf. Furthermore, it was explained that 65% of pupils that attend YGG Llyn-y-Forwyn use Home to School Transport and that the current site lacked drop off facilities with vehicles utilising the neighbouring streets for drop off and pick up at the beginning and end of the school day. Members were informed that the new school site would have dedicated on-site drop off and pick up facilities making the process safer, less disruptive for the community, and more manageable for staff at the school.

The Service Director advised that following a site appraisal of 11 areas, all located within the Rhondda Fach , the new school building was proposed to be built on the land north side of Highfield, Ferndale, CF43 4AD, known locally as the former ‘Chubb Factory’.

The Service Director concluded by stating that, if agreed by Cabinet, a consultation in respect of the matter would run from 1^st March 2021 to 30^th April 2021.

The Cabinet Member for Education and Inclusion Services praised the report, commenting that, if approved, one of the poorest buildings within the education portfolio would be replaced with a new and modern learning environment for pupils with additional capacity for Welsh medium provision.

With the permission of the Chair, County Borough Councillors S Morgans and J Harries spoke on this item.

The Leader noted comments made in respect of highway implications and advised that a full Transport Impact Assessment would be undertaken, and that any safe walking routes would be developed as part of the development. The Leader assured the Local Members that they would be consulted as part of the process.

The Cabinet Member for Enterprise Development and Housing welcomed the report and the proposed new site for the school. The Cabinet Member spoke of the outstanding Planning consent at the site for a mixture of residential and industrial units and questioned how this could be overcome. The Director, Prosperity and Development advised that he was working closely with colleagues in Corporate Estates in terms of the current planning situation. The Director advised that the evidence gathered for industrial and commercial demand in the area would feed into the Local Development Plan and that there was potential to include the site as a candidate site for education.

The Cabinet RESOLVED:

1.    To note the content of the report;

2.    To give formal approval to commence consultation with relevant stakeholders on the proposal to transfer the current YGG Llyn-y-Forwyn to a new building on a new site whilst maintaining the existing catchment area for the school;

3.    To note any proposal, should it be approved following completion of the required statutory processes, would be implemented by March 2024; and

4.    To give delegated authority to the Director of Education and Inclusion Services to make any minor changes that are required to the proposed consultation document (attached at Appendix B to the report) prior to its publication and the consultation commencing.