Agenda and decisions

Apologies were received from Councillor Jones.

Unless already entered in the Council’s Register of Members’ interests, members are required where a matter arises at a meeting;

a.         Which directly relates to Disclosable Pecuniary Interest (‘DPI’) as set out in Appendix B, Table 1 of the Code of Conduct, to disclose the interest, not participate in any discussion or vote and not to remain in room. Where members have a DPI or if the matter concerns an executive function and is being considered by a Cabinet Member with a DPI they must notify the Monitoring Officer and arrange for somebody else to deal with the matter.

b.         Which directly relates to the financial interest or well being of a Other Registrable Interest as set out in Appendix B, Table 2 of the Code of Conduct to disclose the interest and only speak on the matter if members of the public are also allowed to speak at the meeting but otherwise must not take part in any discussion or vote on the matter and must not remain the room.

c.         Which directly relates to their financial interest or well-being (and is not DPI) or the financial well being of a relative or close associate, to declare the interest and members may only speak on the matter if members of the public are also allowed to speak. Otherwise, the member must not take part in discussion or vote on the matter and must leave the room.

d.         Which affects the financial well-being of the member, a relative or close associate or a body included under the Other Registrable Interests column in Table 2, to disclose the interest and apply the test set out at paragraph 9 of Appendix B before deciding whether they may remain in the meeting.

e.         Where Members have or a Cabinet Member has an Other Registerable Interest or Non Registerable Interest in a matter being considered in exercise of their executive function, they must notify the Monitoring Officer and arrange for somebody else to deal with it.

NB Any member needing clarification must contact monitoringofficer@northumberland.gov.uk. Members are referred to the Code of Conduct which contains the matters above in full. Please refer to the guidance on disclosures at the rear of this agenda letter.

Outcomes of Statutory Consultation on Proposals for the Berwick Partnership

This report sets out an analysis of the representations and responses received from interested parties and stakeholders during the four-week statutory consultation, which commenced on 11 May and closed on 8 June 2023, in relation to proposals for schools in the Berwick Partnership.

Cabinet is asked to make a final decision on whether or not to approve the proposals, including school closures, set out in the statutory proposal.  At the same time, Cabinet is requested to make a final decision on whether or not to approve the non-statutory proposals relating to the voluntary schools within the Berwick Partnership as set out in the Report of the Executive Director of Children, Young People and Education, Berwick Partnership Organisation, 9th May 2023.

In making its final decision, Cabinet should note the decision of the DfE’s Advisory Board acting on behalf of the Regional DfE Director North East arising from its meeting of 13 July 2023 with respect to the proposed changes to St Cuthbert’s Catholic First School and Berwick Academy which form an integral part of the overall proposed reorganisation of the Berwick Partnership.

Outcomes of Statutory Consultation on Proposals for the Berwick Partnership 

RESOLVED that:-

(a )     In the light of the prescribed changes set out in the statutory proposal published on 11 May 2023 for schools in the Berwick Partnership and all the information provided in the report (taking into account the Statutory Guidance from the Department for Education’s (DfE) ‘Opening and closing maintained schools Statutory guidance for proposers and decision makers January 2023’ attached at Appendix 2 and ‘Making significant changes (‘prescribed alterations’) to maintained schools Statutory guidance for proposers and decision makers January 2023’ attached at Appendix 3, Cabinet agree to: 

·       Approve for implementation the Council’s statutory proposal to close

o   Berwick Middle School with effect from 31 August 2026;

o   Glendale Middle School with effect from 31 August 2026, noting that the school is classed as a rural secondary and in light of the presumption against the closure of rural schools set out in the DfE guidance ‘Opening and closing maintained schools Statutory guidance for proposers and decision makers January 2023’ at page 24 of the guidance, consider and take into account the factors set out in the guidance as referenced at para. 43 of this report;

o   Tweedmouth Community Middle School with effect from 31 August 2026.

·       Approve for implementation the Council’s statutory proposal to extend the age ranges of the following schools;

o   Scremerston First School from an age 4 to 9 first school to an age 4 to 11 primary school in a phased way with effect from 1?September 2025.

·       Spittal First School from an age 4 to 9 first school to an age 4 to 11 primary school in a phased way with effect from 1?September 2025.

·       Tweedmouth Prior Park First School from an age 3 to 9 first school to an age 3 to 11 primary school in a phased way with effect from 1 September 2025.  

·       Tweedmouth West First School from an age 4 to 9 first school to an age 4 to 11 primary school in a phased way with effect from 1?September 2025.

·       Wooler First School from an age 2 to 9 first school to an age 2 to 11 primary school in a phased way with effect from 1?September 2025.

·        Approve for implementation the Council’s statutory proposal to establish a SEN Unit at the site of Berwick St Mary’s Church of England First School with 30 places for children diagnosed with special educational needs, primarily those with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH), Speech Language and Communication (SLCN) and Moderate Learning Difficulties (MLD) with effect from 1 September 2025.

All of the above approvals conditional upon the granting of planning permission under Part 3 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 by 31 August 2025 in relation to the proposed building works at the above First Schools, as detailed in para 42. Table 2.

·        Linked to the above statutory proposals for Scremerston and Spittal, approve the reduction of the planned admission  ...  view the full decision text for item 3.

To consider such other business as, in the opinion of the Chair, should, by reason of special circumstances, be considered as a matter of urgency.