Decision details

The Director of Education and Inclusion Services sought formal approval to begin the relevant and required statutory school organisation consultation to close Rhigos Primary School in line with the requirements of the Welsh Government’s School Organisation Code (2nd Edition) (011/2018); and to extend the catchment area of Hirwaun Primary School to incorporate the current catchment area of Rhigos Primary School.

With the agreement of the Leader, the following Non-Committee Members were granted permission to address the Cabinet:

·       County Borough Councillor K. Morgan

·       County Borough Councillor A. Rogers

With the agreement of the Leader, the following members of public were granted permission to address the Cabinet:

·       Ms M. Evans

·       Ms S. Oliver

The Leader thanked the Non-Committee Members and members of the public for their contributions. Referring to the table at section 4.5 of the report, the Leader questioned how robust the projections were and how officers had come to their conclusions. The Director advised that accurate live birth data is used from the Local Health Board.

The Cabinet Member for Education, Youth Participation & Welsh Language spoke of the Council’s statutory duty to monitor surplus places throughout its schools. The Cabinet Member commented that the projected 33% decrease in numbers of pupils attending the school in the next five years would have a financial impact on the sustainability of the school. That, together with the age of the site, the backlog of repairs required and the site’s incompliance with the Equality Act 2010 gave the Cabinet Member concerns regarding the future viability of the school. The Cabinet Member added that there were excellent facilities within and around Hirwaun Primary school, in terms of outdoor space. As such, the Cabinet Member was in support of commencing a consultation to gain a further insight into the views of residents.

The Deputy Leader thanked the speakers for raising key areas for Cabinet’s consideration. The Deputy Leader was in support of commencing a statutory consultation based upon the ageing building and the number of surplus places, which would allow Cabinet, at a future date, the opportunity to balance the views and look thoroughly at the consultation responses.

The Cabinet RESOLVED:

1.    To note the content of the report;

2.    To give formal approval to commence a statutory consultation with relevant stakeholders on the proposal to close Rhigos Primary School and extend the catchment area of Hirwaun Primary School to incorporate the current catchment area of Rhigos Primary School;

3.    To give formal approval to report back to Cabinet to consider the Consultation Report and determine whether to publish the Consultation Report and approve the publication of the proposal in the form of a Statutory Notice; and

4.    To give delegated authority to the Director of Education and Inclusion Services to make any minor changes required to the draft Consultation Document prior to its publication and the statutory consultation commencing.