Issue - items at meetings - Petitions

One petition received (copy attached)

4.1             Valerie Paynter presented a petition on behalf of the saveHove group. The petition had received 714 signatures by the date of publication with another 357 presented at the meeting bring the total to 1,071. Signatories included the Chair of the Regency Society, 16 members and the Chair of the Brighton Society and the former Chair of Montpellier and Clifton Hill Association. Ms Paynter explained that the building was much loved and its return to Infant and Primary School use would benefit the whole community.

4.2      The Cabinet Member for Children and Young People answered that the Council had explored and continued to explore opportunities for increasing primary capacity across the city. A part of this exploration had been discussion with City College over the likely future of the Connaught Centre.

Negotiations continue and, whilst it is recognised that the Connaught Centre would provide an ideal site in south Hove for a primary school, the cost of purchase and potential refurbishment costs must be set against the present planned and costed works and the likelihood of severely restricted budget cuts for the foreseeable future.

The paper entitled Proposed New School for Hove Interim Proposal presented at today’s CMM meeting identifies the Connaught site and other possibilities for the establishment of three form entry reception class provision for September 2011.