Content

Decision
 
RESOLVED that
Cabinet:
1.1) recognised the value
that St Nicholas Church of England School provides to the community
of Elstree and the wider area.
1.2) are concerned that with
proposed growth numbers in Hertsmere that St Nicholas CofE School
will be important to ensuring that primary school educational needs
can be met.
1.3) highlighted the
potential impact of the loss of the school to the community along
with the historic links as shown through its Voluntary Aided
status.
1.4) agreed the funding of
£10,000 to Elstree & Borehamwood Town Council as a
contribution to efforts to keep St Nicholas CofE School
open.
 
Reasons for
decision
 
Cabinet have seen, and echo, the concerns from
the local community at the potential loss of a community facility
which benefits from Voluntary Aided status.
 
Cabinet are mindful of the limited amount of
CIL funding available for educational purposes and that closing a
site in this manner whilst accruing short term savings would
potentially lead to a large capital bid in the future to re-provide
provision in the local area.
 
Elstree & Borehamwood Town Council are
actively looking at how to prevent the closure and therefore
Hertsmere Borough Council providing limited financial support is
the most effective way to positively contribute to the existing
campaign.
 
Alternative Options
Considered
 
The Cabinet were of the opinion that St
Nicholas School was an integral part of Elstree and that the
closure will lead to a loss of facilities to the local community in
general.
 
Further, the Council was under immense pressure
to increase housing, both through extending settlements and
increasing the density on brownfield and existing sites. This is
likely to have an impact on demand levels for both schooling and
community facilities.
 
If the School site was lost, re-provision would
be at an extremely high cost to the community a large proportion of
which would have to be met by CIL (Community Infrastructure Levy)
Fund, but potentially without the benefit of the Church of England
support which the school currently benefits from as a Voluntary
Aided primary school.
 
If the School closed, it was also likely to
lead to increased travel and transport costs for pupils from the
Church of England faith as they would look to other CoE Schools.
This would be disruptive, impacting community cohesion and the
environment.
 
The school also has a large proportion of SEND
(Special Educational Needs and Disabled) pupils where it disruption
is likely to have an increased negative impact on their educational
as well as emotional and mental health and well-being. SEND support
across the county is already under intense pressure.
 
The Council could look at how to undertake a
Judicial Review of the decision directly, or support other
activities to prevent the closure. Undertaking this directly is
seen as inefficient when there is already a properly constituted
and organised body undertaking actions which could otherwise end up
competing or frustrating each others activities.