Agenda and minutes

There were no disclosable pecuniary interests.

a)  To agree the minutes of the meeting held on 12^th April 2017

b)  Matters arising

The minutes of the meeting held on 12^th April 2017 were agreed and signed as a true record.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive (People)

To consider the above petition bearing 55 signatures which has been submitted by Councillor Abbott, a Wyken Ward Councillor, who has been invited to the meeting for the consideration of this item along with the petition organiser.

The Cabinet Member considered a report of the Director of Education, Libraries and Adult Learning, which responded to a petition opposing the closure of the Cardinal Wiseman Catholic School farm.

A petition bearing 55 signatures had been submitted by Councillor Abbott, a Wyken Ward Councillor, who was invited to attend the meeting along with the petition organiser but were unable to attend.  Whilst the Council only accepted signatures on e-petitions hosted on its own website, the Cabinet Member noted that, in addition, there were also 1,336 signatures on an online petition hosted on a different website.  The petitioners were concerned about the closure of the farm at Cardinal Wiseman Catholic School and were seeking the support of the Council in requesting that the Cardinal Wiseman Catholic School and the School’s Board of Governors rethink their position regarding the closure of the farm.

The report indicated that the decision had already been taken by the Romero Multi-Academy Company (MAC) and the Cardinal Wiseman Catholic School and that the local authority had no jurisdiction regarding this decision.

However, the Council was interested in a broad curriculum and it was proposed that Council officers explore options with providers in Coventry and Warwickshire for how Coventry children with an interest in vocational land-based / agriculture / horticulture learning could pursue this and that these also be discussed with the Cardinal Wiseman Catholic school.  It was proposed that a report on the outcome of these discussions be submitted to the Cabinet Member, to include investigating whether there were examples from other urban areas about addressing this issue.

RESOLVED that the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills:-

1.  Note that the decision has already been taken by the Romero Multi-Academy Company (MAC) and the Cardinal Wiseman Catholic School and that the local authority does not have any jurisdiction regarding this decision.

2.  Request Council officers to explore, with providers in Coventry and Warwickshire, options for how Coventry children with an interest in vocational land-based / agricultural / horticulture learning could pursue this. Council officers to discuss these options with the Cardinal Wiseman Catholic School and report back to the Cabinet Member on the outcome of this work, including investigating whether there were examples from other urban areas about addressing this issue.

There are no outstanding issues

There were no outstanding issues.

Any other items of public business which the Cabinet Member decides to take as matters of urgency because of the special circumstances involved.

There were no other items of public business.