Issue details

On 16 January 2020, Cabinet agreed to a statutory notice being published to begin a representation period on the proposed closure of Thomas Whitham Sixth Form. A statutory proposal document was published in relation to the proposed closure of the school, with effect from 31 August 2020. The representation period took place from 29 January to 3 March 2020. 

As part of the statutory process, a decision must now be taken about the proposal and this will be done by Lancashire County Council, as the decision maker. If the authority does not make a decision within two months from the end of the representation period, the proposal and any representations about the proposal must be passed to the schools adjudicator for a decision.

This is deemed to be a Key Decision and the provisions of Standing Order C21 have been complied with.

This decision is urgent and cannot await the next meeting of Cabinet. The reason for this is that all formal meetings of the council, including Cabinet, have been cancelled for the foreseeable future and this decision has been deemed to be business critical by the relevant Executive Director. This decision is therefore being taken on behalf of Cabinet by the Leader of the Council  and the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Schools in accordance with the provisions of Standing Order C16(1).