Agenda item

The Council gave consideration to a report outlining key information required to identify a preferred site for the Learning Estate Investment Programme (LEIP) Mull Campus Project which had reached the decision milestone for site selection.

Following questions, the Depute Provost ruled and the Council agreed to adjourn for 10 Minutes from 4.20pm to 4.30pm to allow officers to consider the competency of a proposed amendment. The meeting reconvened with all those present as per the sederunt. Following consideration, the Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support advised that the amendment was not competent.

Decision

The Council –

1.    noted the contents of the report and supporting Appendices;

2.    endorsed the site scoring mechanism, criteria and supporting assessments which were consistent with criteria categories commonly used for site selection on previous Council school projects;

3.    confirmed Site 4 – Tobermory South as the preferred site for a new Mull Campus and agreed to progress the Outline Business Case on that basis;

4.    noted that as the preferred option would constitute a proposal to relocate the existing campus, a statutory consultation would be legally required under the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010, the outcome of which would be reported back to full Council upon completion of that process; and

5.    in making their decision in accordance with recommendation (b), above, had specific regard to the detail of the Integrated Impact Assessment (Appendix 1K) on the potential impacts to the relevant groups on Mull and its surrounding islands, as detailed therein, recognising that each site presented different benefits and disbenefits to these distinct groups.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Commercial Services and Education dated 6 February 2025; and Supplementary Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Commercial Services and Education and Executive Director with responsibility for Financial Services dated 28 February 2025, submitted)