Minutes:
The Leader of the Council introduced a recommendation before the Council to make a loan facility of £21m available to Greenfield School to cover the costs of the acquisition and development of the School’s new site. The loan facility had been included in the Council’s approved Investment Programme and £11m of the overall sum had already been agreed. Under the proposals, the School would pay a 1% margin on the loan at a level assumed to be £136,000pa. The loan would be secured against the School’s property assets.
A number of Councillors expressed concern over the proposals, noting that the sum represented a significant amount of funding against a small margin of return over a long term repayment structure of 50 years. It was also questioned whether the Council should be providing funds to a private educational facility. It was argued that the funding would enable the School to increase its intake which in turn would help create more school places in local schools.
Councillor Ashall moved and Councillor Azad seconded the following amendment to the recommendations:
“That from the margin of 1%, 50% is set aside to provide fully funded places at Greenfield School for Woking students.”
The Council was invited to debate the amendment. It was estimated that the proposal would create between 4 and 5 fully funded places at the School. However, it was argued that the School itself should provide such opportunities. Responsibility for the allocation of such a bursary was discussed, noting that the School itself would have in place a means tested policy which could be used in the event the amendment was supported.
In accordance with Standing Order 10.8, the names of Members voting for and against the amendment were recorded.
In favour: Councillors S Ashall, A Azad, D Bittleston, K Davis, C Kemp, and C Rana.
Total in favour: 6
Against: Councillors M Ali, T Aziz, A-M Barker, J Bond, A Boote, M Bridgeman, G Chrystie, G Cundy, W Forster, D Harlow, K Howard, D Hughes, S Hussain, I Johnson, R Leach, L Morales, M I Raja, J Sanderson and M Whitehand.
Total against: 19
Present not voting: Councillors G Elson, L Lyons and N Martin.
Total present not voting: 3
The amendment was therefore lost by 6 votes in favour to 19 votes against.
The Members of the Council continued the debate of the substantive recommendations before them, raising further arguments against the proposals including the lack of clarity over the community use agreement and the low margin of return. Councillor Bittleston responded to the points made and moved that the item should be deferred to enable further discussions to be held before a report was presented at a future meeting. The motion was seconded by Councillor Azad and, at the request of Councillor Bond, was put to the Council for debate.
In accordance with Standing Order 10.8, the names of Members voting for and against the amendment were recorded.
In favour: Councillors S Ashall, A Azad, D Bittleston, K Davis, G Elson, D Harlow, C Kemp, L Lyons, N Martin and C Rana.
Total in favour: 10
Against: Councillors M Ali, T Aziz, A-M Barker, J Bond, A Boote, M Bridgeman, G Cundy, W Forster, K Howard, D Hughes, L Morales, M I Raja, J Sanderson and M Whitehand.
Total against: 14
Present not voting: Councillors S Hussain, I Johnson and R Leach.
Total present not voting: 3
(NOTE: Councillor Chrystie had left the Meeting during the debate, prior to the second vote being taken.)
The amendment was therefore lost by 10 votes in favour to 14 votes against.
The Mayor directed the Council to the recommendations now before it, namely those recommendations proposed by the Executive. In accordance with Standing Order 10.8, the names of Members voting for and against the amendment were recorded.
In favour: Councillors A Azad, D Bittleston, K Davis, D Harlow, C Kemp and C Rana.
Total in favour: 6
Against: Councillors M Ali, T Aziz, A-M Barker, J Bond, A Boote, M Bridgeman, G Cundy, W Forster, K Howard, D Hughes, S Hussain, R Leach, L Morales, M I Raja, J Sanderson and M Whitehand.
Total against: 16
Present not voting: Councillors S Ashall, G Elson, I Johnson, L Lyons and N Martin.
Total present not voting: 5
The substantive recommendations before the Council were therefore lost by 6 votes in favour to 16 votes against.
RESOLVED
That the recommendations of the Executive in respect of a £21m loan facility and a Community Use Agreement for Greenfield School be not supported.