FOI Request - Forres Academy Proposal
Request 101003799246
1. Please provide evidence that the Moray Council (TMC) had consultations with local groups in Forres regarding the site selection of the proposed new academy. Please specify precisely:
a) Which groups were consulted
b) On which dates groups were consulted
c) Evidence and minutes of these meetings
2. Meeting held at Applegrove Primary School; please provide:
a) Minute of the meeting and
b) Proposed action plan.
3. Please provide evidence that the Moray Council have had discussions with Forres Skate Park and Community Football Trust, including:
a) Meetings and
b) Minutes
4. Please provide evidence that the Moray Council own all of the Applegrove playing fields where the proposed new academy is to be built.
Response 27-06-2025
1.
Note that there Is no statutory requirement to consult on a site selection
September 2023
Several engagement events conducted as part of the commencement of the Forres ASG element of the wider Moray Learning Estate Review. The output of these meetings will form part of the Overall Review Report to be presented to Councillors in Oct 2025 and form part of full report to Committee in Nov 2025 on potential options to rationalise the school estate in the future. None of the information relates to any decisions on a new site for Forres Academy; however, due to the number of queries received during this process on the future of Forres Academy, information was made available on the Council webpage regarding the 3 short listed sites. These were presented in our ‘Place Based Review’ which assessed each option against the Future Forres Academy Project Strategy and SMART objectives.
24 October 2023 Community Drop in Forres ASG
The place-based review shared was an initial assessment of the 3 site options against the new school project strategic objectives (Lochyhill, Applegrove/ Roysvale, Grantown Road). It was not intended to determine a preferred site option at that time but demonstrated some early site factor considerations that had been identified that would support a future site selection process.
4 December 2023
Design Charette outside spaces/ shared spaces
Undertaken with three separate groups: pupils of Forres Academy, staff of Forres Academy and invited public representatives and elected members of Forres
Invited public representatives were Community Council reps, Forres Area Forum, ASG Parent Council reps, Leanchoil Trust, FACT, Community Football Trust, Forres Skate Park and Forres Community Sports hub
No formal meeting minutes were taken for this meeting but user requirements were taken forward into the concept design process. This design information is incorporated into the PAN information currently available on the Moray Coucil website Replacement Forres Academy Pre-Application Consultation Virtual Public Exhibition - Moray Council: http://www.moray.gov.uk/moray_standard/page_162105.html
28 March – 25 April Public Engagement
Following a decision at ECLS Committee on 27 March 2024, an online and paper survey seeking feedback on the possible site options was launched with the paper surveys being available within Forres Library and Post Office. An information session for Forres Academy Staff and Pupils was held on 17 April in Forres Academy and a community drop-in session was held on 18 April at Forres Town Hall.
The same information as that contained within the survey was on display at the information and drop-in sessions with officers fielding questions.
The was an information sharing engagement and not a consultation on the site selection.
This information was made available to open report to ECLS Committee on 14 May 2024
14 May 2024
ECLS Committee
Learning Estate Programme Update – Future Forres Academy Site Selection
The report presented the outcome of both the site options appraisal undertaken by the design team (hub North Scotland), the outcome of both the online and paper survey and presented a preferred site for recommendation – this being Applegrove/ Roysvale. The appendices to the report included the feasibility report by the design team, a copy of the survey and the outcome of both online and paper survey responses.
The officer recommendations were approved and taken to full Council on 22 May 2024.
22 May 2024
Moray Council
Learning Estate Programme Update – Future Forres Academy Site Selection
The recommendations from 14 May 2024 ECLS meeting were submitted to Moray Council, with the report including all the same information as that presented to ECLS meeting.
The Moray Council accepted the recommendations as per the ECLS committee on 14 May.
The online Frequently Asked Questions page Forres Academy - New School Build - Moray Council http://www.moray.gov.uk/moray_standard/page_151261.html
states that:
“Originally 8 sites were considered for a new school build. 3 of these were not shortlisted for review as they were considered too small and/or within flood or flood alleviation impacted areas that would not be accepted by the Moray Council Planning Authority. Of the remaining 5 ‘viable’ sites council officers subsequently discounted 2 further sites: Grant Park site to the south of Andersons Primary on South Street due to the land being held in Trust this was dismissed and the site to the east of Mannachie Road was discounted due to this already being targeted for development as part of the Moray Growth Deal Housing Mix project and therefore no longer available.
Following several more assessments a further site at Grantown Road was discounted, due to the close nature of a gas pipeline and it being outside the Forres Town boundary with the surrounding areas not included in the Local Development Plan for development.
This left the Lochyhills and Applegrove/ Roysvale as the 2 remaining options.
2. The Council Leader can confirm that they met with a constituent, accompanied by another Moray Councillor, during this time. This was a constituent meeting and therefore private and no minutes were taken.
3. Meetings were held with both community groups on 24 October 2023 – no minutes were taken. There are no records of any subsequent meetings with these groups
4. Title deeds are publicly available through the Registers of Scotland - https://www.ros.gov.uk/ . Alternatively, the Council can provide copy deeds at a cost.
If you would like the Council to provide copies, please contact the Moray Council with the exact area that you are requesting information for.