Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from County Councillor Sian Cox.

To receive any declarations of interest from Members relating to items to be considered on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest received.

To consider a report by County Councillor Pete Roberts Cabinet Member for a Learning Powys.

Cabinet considered the results of the consultation carried out on the proposal to close Irfon Valley C.P. School from the 31^st August 2024, with pupils to transfer to their nearest alternative schools.

Cabinet acknowledged the work of the local Member County Councillor Bryan Davies in the community and noted his comments set out in the report. Cabinet was advised that two alternative proposals suggested by respondents to the consultation had been modelled by officers but not found to be viable.

Based on the findings of the consultation, and further assessment of the options in accordance with the requirements of the School Organisation Code in terms of the Presumption Against Closure of Rural Schools, Cabinet accepted the advice of officers that the Council should proceed with the proposal to close Irfon Valley C.P. School by publishing a Statutory Notice.

                        RESOLVED

i)     To receive the Consultation Report in respect of the proposal to close Irfon Valley C.P. School.

ii)    To approve the publication of a statutory notice proposing closure of Irfon Valley C.P. School from the 31^st August 2024, with pupils to transfer to their nearest alternative schools.

iii)  To ensure that the school complies with section 3.7.2 of the Scheme for Financing Schools as follows:

‘In order to ensure effective stewardship of the resources available to schools, the Authority may impose additional restrictions on a school scheduled to close, including but not limited to:

-       Restriction of expenditure to agreed plans

-       Removal of powers of virement’

On behalf of the Cabinet and Council thanked HTR staff who had worked over the weekend dealing with incidents arising as a result of Storm Isha.