Contact: Karen Widdowson, Committee Division - 01962 847334

1. Summary

The Education Buildings Sub-Committee at its meeting on 6 March 2001 approved subject to the approval of the Buildings, Grounds and Contracts Panel, a building design project appraisal for the Chandlers Ford School scheme. It is recommended that the Education Committee be permitted to retain 100% of the Capital Receipt arising from the sale of the Annexe Site as an "in/out" arrangement under Regulation 99 of the Local Authority (Capital Finance) Regulation 1997, as a contribution towards the scheme.

2. Introduction

2.1. Chandlers Ford Infant School is currently attended by 270 pupils, with its accommodation spread between two sites. The main school site is located on Kings Road. Across the Kingsway, and to the north, is an area of land known as the `Annexe', which accommodates a double temporary classroom and an area of hard play-court. It is intended to bring all school activity to the main school site by providing permanent replacement teaching accommodation.

2.2. Due to lack of available space on this very constricted site, the Annexe must remain operational until the new accommodation is complete. It is then intended to demolish the temporary building on the Annexe site and sell the land for residential development. It is proposed that the site be disposed of under an "in/out" arrangement in order to provide capital funding for the proposed works. The current estimate for the sale of the land, from the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services (Estates Practice), is approximately £200,000, subject to the grant of an appropriate planning consent and consent from the Secretary of State under S77 School Standards and Framework Act 1998.

2.3. An allocation of £344,000, excluding fees, has been included in the Education Committee's 2001/02 Capital Programme following a successful bid under New Deal for Schools (NDS) to replace temporary buildings at this site. It is a requisite of the Department for Education and Employment (DfEE) that the NDS funding be spent by 31 March 2002 and, in order to fulfil this requirement, it is intended to combine the capital receipt and NDS funding to enable the complete scheme to be progressed. Approval for the additional funding of £172,000, excluding fees, has been obtained by the County Education Officer and was added to the Education Committee's 2000/01 Capital Programme at the Education Committee meeting on 20 March 2001.

2.4. An existing building located to the south western corner of the site, known as Beech House, currently accommodates the school's administration service. This former residential building is not connected to the main school and does not offer suitable facilities for the school. It is therefore proposed that the building be demolished upon completion of the replacement accommodation.

3. Funding and Timing

3.1. The approved funding of £172,000, excluding fees, from the sale of the land, has been added to the Education Committee's 2001/02 Capital Programme. This will be combined with the existing allocation of £344,000, excluding fees, from the successful NDS bid, giving an overall total of £516,000, excluding fees, for the proposals outlined in this design project appraisal.

Recommendations

That the Education Committee be permitted to retain 100% of the Capital
Receipt arising from the sale of the Annexe site as an "in/out" arrangement under Regulation 99 of the Local Authority (Capital Finance) Regulation 1997, as a contribution towards the scheme.

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background papers

The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

NB. the list excludes:

1. Published works.
2. Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in
the Act.

TITLE FILE
Buildings Management System reports, Property, Management &
Site surveys and investigations, Information File - PB&R
Architect's plans.

8PR21501