Stubbington Study Centre Saved!

You may well have seen or heard via local media that today Hampshire County Council (HCC) Cabinet voted unanimously not to close Stubbington Study Centre (SSC) in order to repurpose the site for a secure children's home to replace Swanwick Lodge.  I have posted the full list of approved recommendatioins on www.hhra.org.uk Latest News.  HCC will apply to the Department for Education (DfE) for a six month extension to the deadline for a business case for the secure children's home and availability of the £60million and will work with district and borough councils to extend the search for a suitable site. The BBC reporter specifically asked HCC Leader Cllr Nick Adams King if that meant they could come back in six months and again propose to close SSC and he answered firmly 'No'.

This campaign has been undertaken by a real coalition of interests: children who have used SSC and their families; teachers past and present; councillors; HHRA and many others.  All those perspectives were represented at the Select Committee two weeks ago and the Cabinet meeting today and it was clear that the arguments put forward were very persuasive.

Given the case that HCC had belatedly tried to make that SSC was not financially viable, it was particularly interesting to hear the deputation  today from Peter Howard, headteacher in Southampton and chair of the SSC advisory committee.  He stated that £493,000 had been transferred out of the SSC reserves to HCC in 2019 and another £200,000 in 2024.  He confirmed that SSC always made a surplus.

I could say much more, but for now I would simply like to express particular thanks to Councillor Simon Martin Leader of FBC for all his support; Councillor Pal Hayre who has been tireless in the fight; and our member Lynne Murray who prepared the application for listing as an asset of community value, ensured HCC knew of the DfE's willingness to consider an extension to the deadline and made a powerful deputation today which I have put on the hhra website.

A good day for democracy and for community strength.