To consider the motion to be proposed by Councillor Sandra Thornberry. Seconded by Councillors Philip Black, Jean Parr, Mandy King, Abbott Bryning and Robert Redfern.
“As the 5 year anniversary of the closure of Skerton Community High School passes, Council reflects on the continued dispossession and dereliction of these premises in the heart of our urban community.
Skerton Community High School had offered a site for education and a focal point for the community in north Lancaster since the mid 1930’s. The High School was closed and has stood empty since 31stAugust 2014. The buildings are becoming increasingly dilapidated and are understood to contain hazardous materials such as asbestos.
The land and buildings in question are owned and managed by Lancashire County Council, who have been unwilling or unable to indicate their intentions for the future of the site.
This Council believes that the site has massive potential to be used once again primarily for educational purposes, and possibly also as a hub for the community, to promote health and wellbeing, sports, environment, and provide a local economic boost for residents in North of Lancaster.
Council therefore resolves to;
No briefing note has been provided as this is a County Council issue.
Minutes:
Councillor Thornberry proposed the following motion having given the required notice to the Chief Executive in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 15:-
“As the 5 year anniversary of the closure of Skerton Community High School passes, Council reflects on the continued dispossession and dereliction of these premises in the heart of our urban community.
Skerton Community High School had offered a site for education and a focal point for the community in north Lancaster since the mid 1930’s. The High School was closed and has stood empty since 31stAugust 2014. The buildings are becoming increasingly dilapidated and are understood to contain hazardous materials such as asbestos.
The land and buildings in question are owned and managed by Lancashire County Council, who have been unwilling or unable to indicate their intentions for the future of the site.
This Council believes that the site has massive potential to be used once again primarily for educational purposes, and possibly also as a hub for the community, to promote health and wellbeing, sports, environment, and provide a local economic boost for residents in North of Lancaster.
Council therefore resolves to;
(1) Call upon Lancashire County Council to bring the site back into regular use, possibly for a plurality of uses, but certainly education again as soon as possible.
(2) To actively seek out, and support potential partners/occupiers of the site in their dealings with Lancashire County Council.
(3) To liaise with Lancashire County Council in trying to identify potential partners and uses for the site, such as provision for children with EHCP’s (Education and Health Care Plan), a city centre campus for a university, a technical college, a community centre, woodland or town green.
(4) To liaise with Lancashire County Council (or other 3rdparties utilising the site) to ensure any renovations or developments comply with our ‘ambitions’, in particular in terms of local procurement, employment standards and the climate emergency declaration.”
Councillor Redfern seconded the motion.
An amendment to the motion, in the form of an addendum, was moved by Councillor Bannon and seconded by Councillor Caroline Jackson:
“5. To instruct officers to investigate with Lancashire County Council, the availability of the site for acquisition within the City Council Capital Strategy as a potential investment, with a view to the extensive site providing affordable/social housing and generating funding for the creation of the community facilities.”
Councillor Thornberry spoke to say that she would not accept this as a friendly amendment as it did not reflect the motion’s emphasis on keeping education as the primary use for the site.
At this point, the Mayor asked the Deputy Monitoring Officer to speak. She provided clarification about the validity of the amendment with regard to the Constitution, explaining that it was not relevant to the motion being debated. The amendment proposed a radically different course of action to the one outlined in the motion. Council did not have supporting factual information about the resource implications which investigating acquiring and developing the land might entail, which would normally have been provided in the form of a briefing note, as required by Council Procedure Rule 15.3. In view of this advice, the Mayor ruled that the amendment could not be taken forward and debate should continue on the original motion. When that debate ended, a recorded vote was called for in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 19.4.
The votes were recorded as follows:-
Votes ‘for’ the motion:-
Councillors Anderson, Bannon, Barber, Biddulph, Black, Boyd-Power, Brookes, Bryning, Carrington, Cleet, Clifford, Dennison, Duggan, Evans, Firth, Frea, Goodwin, Greenall, Greenwell, Guilding, Hamilton-Cox, Hanson, Hartley, Heath, Caroline Jackson, Joan Jackson, King, Geoff Knight, Sarah Knight, Lewis, Mills, Mumford, O’Dwyer-Henry, Parr, Penny, Pritchard, Redfern, Reynolds, Robinson, Scothern, Smith, Stubbins, Thornberry, Whearty, Whitaker, Whitehead, Whitworth, Wild, Wood, Yates and Young.
There were no votes against the motion and no
abstentions.
Resolved unanimously:-
As the 5 year anniversary of the closure of Skerton Community High School passes, Council reflects on the continued dispossession and dereliction of these premises in the heart of our urban community.
Skerton Community High School had offered a site for education and a focal point for the community in north Lancaster since the mid 1930’s. The High School was closed and has stood empty since 31stAugust 2014. The buildings are becoming increasingly dilapidated and are understood to contain hazardous materials such as asbestos.
The land and buildings in question are owned and managed by Lancashire County Council, who have been unwilling or unable to indicate their intentions for the future of the site.
This Council believes that the site has massive potential to be used once again primarily for educational purposes, and possibly also as a hub for the community, to promote health and wellbeing, sports, environment, and provide a local economic boost for residents in North of Lancaster.
Council therefore resolves to;
(1) Call upon Lancashire County Council to bring the site back into regular use, possibly for a plurality of uses, but certainly education again as soon as possible.
(2) To actively seek out, and support potential partners/occupiers of the site in their dealings with Lancashire County Council.
(3) To liaise with Lancashire County Council in trying to identify potential partners and uses for the site, such as provision for children with EHCP’s (Education and Health Care Plan), a city centre campus for a university, a technical college, a community centre, woodland or town green.
(4) To liaise with Lancashire County Council (or other 3rdparties utilising the site) to ensure any renovations or developments comply with our ‘ambitions’, in particular in terms of local procurement, employment standards and the climate emergency declaration.