Directions to make proposals for rationalisation of school places
57Directions to make proposals to remedy excessive or insufficient provision
(1)This section applies where the Welsh Ministers are of the opinion that there is excessive provision, or that there is, or there is likely to be, insufficient provision, for primary or secondary education in maintained schools—
(a)in the area of a local authority, or
(b)in a part of such an area.
(2)The Welsh Ministers may—
(a)direct the local authority to exercise its powers to make proposals to establish, alter or discontinue schools, and
(b)direct the governing body of a foundation or voluntary school maintained by the authority to exercise its powers to make proposals to alter its school.
(3)A direction under subsection (2) must—
(a)require the proposals to be published no later than the date specified in the direction,
(b)require the proposals, in giving effect to the direction, to apply any principles specified in it, and
(c)where the Welsh Ministers are of the opinion that there is, or there is likely to be, insufficient provision, specify the additional number of pupils to be accommodated.
(4)A direction under subsection (2)(a) may not require the proposals to relate to a named school.
58Further provision about proposals made after a direction under section 57(2)
(1)Proposals made in accordance with a direction under section 57(2) may not be withdrawn without the consent of the Welsh Ministers.
(2)The Welsh Ministers may give consent for the purposes of subsection (1) subject to conditions.
(3)The local authority must reimburse expenditure reasonably incurred by a governing body of a school maintained by it in making proposals in accordance with a direction under section 57(2).
(4)Despite anything in Part 1 of Schedule 3 (responsibility for implementation of statutory proposals), the local authority must meet the cost of implementing proposals made by a governing body of a school maintained by the authority in accordance with a direction under section 57(2) which have been approved or determined to be implemented.