Decision details

Implementation of the updated Staffordshire County Council Education Infrastructure Contributions Policy (SEICP)

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Purpose:

Legislation requires that housing development should mitigate its impact on community infrastructure, including schools. “Developer contributions” towards new school places should provide both funding for construction and land where applicable. Following the publication of new Department for Education (DfE) guidance on "Securing developer contributions for education", the team established a policy working group to update the current policy. If adopted, the updated policy “Staffordshire Education Infrastructure Contributions Policy (SEICP)” will enable additional developer contributions, for funding for construction and land, to be secured towards the provision of Special Education Needs and Disability (SEND) places, home to school travel (mainstream) and home to school travel (SEND).

Decisions:

 

“It is essential that we ensure there are enough school places available for children in the county, and that any child who wants to learn in a mainstream school has the opportunity to do so. Therefore, it is important we assess the impact of any new housing development and ensure we have sufficient places.

 

Updating our contributions policy means we can continue to secure enough mainstream and early years places, as well as securing special education places and home-to-school travel assistance for eligible pupils”.

 

Jonathan Price, Cabinet Member for Education (and SEND)

 

Reasons for the Decision – To consider the updated Education Planning Obligations Policy, now called “Staffordshire Education Infrastructure Contributions Policy” (SEICP) in response to new and revised guidance/legislation.  The Policy outlines the Council’s approach to assessing the impact of new housing developments on mainstream and early years educational provision and the appropriate mitigation measures.

 

Decision – That the implementation of the updated “Staffordshire Education Infrastructure Contributions Policy” from 1st March 2021 be approved.

Report author: Andrew Marsden

Publication date: 18/02/2021

Date of decision: 17/02/2021

Decided at meeting: 17/02/2021 - Cabinet

Effective from: 24/02/2021

Accompanying Documents: