Issue - meetings

The Cabinet considered the report of the Interim Director of Children’s Social Care and Education in relation to a request seeking approval to commence a statutory consultation process on the future of St Teresa’s Catholic Infant School. 

The report also referred to a request from the School Governors of St Teresa’s Catholic Infant School to consider the possibility of a merger with their neighbouring Catholic primary school, Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School, be explored.

The Leader, Councillor Maher highlighted that there had been a typographical error in the report, reference paragraph 5.1 to the report and stated that the figure should read 39% surplus places and not 61%.

Councillor Maher reported that a petition containing 25 signatures had been received and that the Lead petitioner, Mrs L. McCormick would be given five minutes to make her representations to the meeting of Cabinet.

Mrs L. McCormick made representations to the Cabinet in relation to the proposal to commence Statutory Consultation regarding the future of St Teresa’s Catholic Infant School.

Cabinet Members were given the opportunity to ask questions and seek clarifications.  The following comments were made:

·       That the Local Authority had received a request to approve a deficit budget for 2019/20 from the Chair of Governors at St Teresa’s Catholic Infant School and a request was made for the Local Authority to explore a merger with Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School.

·       Falling numbers were referred to. 

·       That this report was the first stage of exploring the future options of St Teresa’s Catholic Infant School.

·       That no decision was being taken today in relation to the outcome of the future of the School.

·       The report was seeking approval to commence the statutory consultation process .

·       The financial health of the School was highlighted and its deficit position. 

·       It was highlighted that Local Authority have a responsibility to pick up the costs of the deficit of a School and so all options have to be investigated and consulted upon.

Councillor Maher thanked Mrs L. McCormick for attending the Meeting.

Decision Made:         That the Cabinet:

(1)           note the request from the Governing body of St Teresa’s Infant School;

(2)           note the statutory process outlined in the report: and

(3)           approve the commencement of the statutory consultation process relating to the future operation of St Teresa’s Catholic Infant School via the publication of a consultation paper agreed between the Council and the Archdiocese of Liverpool.