Purpose

At its meeting on 19 January 2023, the Cabinet received a report which outlined the challenges and opportunities facing Cardiff in the development of the education estate. 

It was agreed at this meeting it be agreed that officers bring forward a School Organisation Strategy within the next financial year that leads to priority projects against the new rolling programme of funding of the Sustainable Communities for Learning.

The detail of the strategy will be set out in this report along with the timeframe for associated work to inform the Sustainable Communities for Learning bid and proposed catchment arrangements.

Decision

Cllr Peter Bradbury declared a personal and prejudicial interest in this item, as his child attends a school mentioned within the report.  Cllr Bradbury left the meeting and did not take part in decision making.

Cllrs Chris Weaver and Norma Mackie declared a personal interest in this item as they are Governors at Cathays High School.

Cllr Sarah Merry declared a personal interest in this item as a school in her ward is referenced within the report.

RESOLVED: that

(i)              the content of the Annual Report setting out progress and successes over the past 12 months of Cardiff’s Sustainable Communities for Learning programme be noted.

(ii)             The ‘Education Investment Strategy Caerdydd 2024 – 2033’ be adopted.

(iii)           the schemes that have been prioritised for investment under ‘Cardiff’s Sustainable Communities for Learning Rolling Programme 2024-2033’ be approved to allow a programme business case to be formally submitted to Welsh Government for approval by the Minister.

(iv)           It be noted that individual proposals under ‘Cardiff’s Sustainable Communities for Learning Rolling Programme 2024-2033’ will be subject to appropriate business cases and are at this stage indicative.

(v)             It be noted that the Cathays High School project will no longer be delivered through the Mutual Investment Model but will instead form a capital project in the rolling programme. 

(vi)           Responsibility be delegated to the Director of Education and Lifelong Learning for the development and implementation of operational plans to deliver the success measures set out in the strategy.