90

Contact: Contact: Bob Eardley, Strategic Planning Manager, 01962 846275

Summary

1.1 The following decisions are sought:

1. That, subject to the approval of the Executive Member, Policy and Resources, the following variations to the 2002/03 Education capital programme be approved:

(a) provision for additional places at Bridgemary Community School, Gosport, be increased by £200,000;

(b) provision for additional places at Brune Park Community School, Gosport, be increased by £200,000;

(c) provision for additional places at Hounsdown School, Totton, be increased by £200,000;

(d) provision for additional places at Marchwood Junior School be increased by £229,000 to allow for the replacement of temporary accommodation;

(e) provision for additional places at Swanmore Secondary School be increased by £13,000;

(f) that the following named schemes be added to the programme:

Bay House Secondary School, Gosport: additional sixth form accommodation, at a cost of £614,000;

Buriton Primary School, Petersfield: replacement of temporary classroom, at a cost of £250,000;

Frogmore Secondary School, Yateley: additional sixth form places, at a cost of £716,000;

Ringwood Secondary School: additional sixth form places, at a cost of £276,000;

Warblington Secondary School, Havant: refurbishment of design technology and home economics accommodation at a cost of £470,000.

(g) that the allocation of Seed Challenge grant be approved for the schemes listed below:

: School	£ `000
Blackfield Junior	44
Botley Primary	79
Harrison Primary, Fareham	71
Netley Abbey Junior	160
Orchard Lea Junior, Fareham	84
Ranvilles Junior, Fareham	95
St. Lawrence Primary, Alton	50
Upham CE (A) Primary	55
Bridgemary Community, Gosport	33
Cams Hill Secondary, Portchester	36
Harriet Costello Secondary, Basingstoke	50
Henry Beaufort Secondary, Winchester	102
Kings' Secondary, Winchester	41
The Arnewood Secondary. New Milton	50
The Petersfield Secondary	190
Yateley Community	60
Icknield Special, Andover	15
Stubbington Study Centre, Gosport	50
Contingency	1
Total	1,266

(h) that minor works schemes totalling £1.51m financed from NDS Modernisation funding be approved.

(i) that the contingency provision be increased by £158,000.

2. That the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services be authorised to negotiate for the provision of sixth form accommodation at Bay House Secondary School, Gosport with the successful tenderer for the 11-16 extension project.

3. That approval be given to investigating the feasibility of relocating the Woodside Education Support Centre, Colden Common, to the site of Tankerville Special School, Eastleigh.

4. That the strategy set out in paragraph 7.7 of this report be used as a basis for preparing a proposed 2003/04 programme for the New Deal for Schools Modernisation Fund for consideration by the Executive Member, Education in May 2002.

5. That approval be given for the applications for planning permission until 31 August 2006 for temporary classrooms to be placed on the following school sites:

Amery Hill Secondary School, Alton - double temporary classroom;

Berrywood Primary School Hedge End - single temporary classroom;

The Hurst Community School, Baughurst - purpose-designed temporary classroom;

Pennington Infant School, Lymington - double temporary classroom;

Perin's Community School, Alresford - two double temporary classrooms;

Vyne Secondary School, Basingstoke - double temporary classroom;

Wildern Secondary School, Hedge End - two double temporary classrooms.

6. That it be a RECOMMENDATION to the Executive Member, Policy and Resources, that the applications for the temporary classroom accommodation listed in recommendation 6 be approved until 31 August 2006.

Reason

2.1 To approve variations to the Education capital programme

Other options considered and rejected - not applicable.

Conflicts of interest declared by the decision maker or a member or officer consulted - not applicable.

Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee - not applicable.

Reasons for the matter being dealt with if urgent - not applicable.

Approved by Date of decision

Councillor D Allen

Contact: Bob Eardley, Strategic Planning Manager, 01962 846275

1. Summary

1.2 The 2002/03 Education capital programme was approved by County Council on 21 February 2002. Since the programme was approved, a number of issues have arisen which require decision. These are principally:

· an additional allocation of £1.606m by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) for sixth form basic need;

· the allocation of Seed Challenge grant to specific schemes;

· the allocation of Unsupported Credit Approvals totalling £400,000 through the Local Public Service Agreement to Bridgemary Community and Brune Park Community schools, Gosport;

· approval of a strategy for the allocation of NDS Modernisation funding and a scheme specific programme of such work for 2002/03;

· approval of the placement of temporary buildings on a number of school sites.

2. Outstanding Schools Capital Expenditure allocation issues

Alton secondary provision

2.1 The 2002/03 Schools Capital Expenditure submission (SCE) sought funding for 261 additional secondary places in Alton, but an allocation of only 61 places was made as the result of an administrative error by the DfES. This cannot be corrected for 2002/03, but a formal undertaking has now been received that the error will be corrected in 2003/04 and credit approval will be made available then for the full number of places. In practice, this will not cause a delay in providing additional accommodation, as the work is programmed for 2003/04.

Sixth form basic need

2.2 The County Council's 2002/03 Annual Capital Guideline bid included provision for additional sixth form places at the following schools:

School	No. of places
Bay House Secondary, Gosport	60
Frogmore Community, Yateley	70
Ringwood Secondary	27
Total	157

2.3 When the proposed 2002/03 capital programme was submitted for approval, a response to the sixth form element of the bid had not been received. The outcome has now been announced and the full number of places bid for has been allocated as a Supplementary Credit Approval (SCA). The following allocations are recommended:

School	£,000
Bay House Secondary, Gosport	614
Frogmore Community, Yateley	716
Ringwood Secondary	276
Total	1,606

2.4 It is recommended that schemes at Bay House Secondary School, Gosport, Frogmore Community School, Yateley and Ringwood Secondary School, together with the allocated resources, are added to the 2002/03 capital programme. A scheme to provide additional 11-16 accommodation at Bay House is currently in contract and additional spaces were designed, pending a response to the sixth form bid. It is recommended that the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services be authorised to negotiate the additional work for these places with the successful tenderer.

3. Lankhills and Shepherd's Down School, Winchester

3.1 The reorganisation of special school provision in the Winchester and Eastleigh area to provide age phased education to pupils with special needs requires the rebuilding of Lankhills School, Winchester (to be renamed Osborne) and major extensions and alterations at Shepherds Down School, Compton. At its meeting on 5 December 2000, the Educations Building Sub Committee (EBSC) approved the design and the procurement strategy to be used. Negotiations have now been completed with the preferred contractor and a contract has been signed under delegated authority arrangements in order to meet the timescale of an Easter 2003 completion.

3.2 Funding of the scheme requires amendment to reflect changes in assumptions on capital receipts, grant from the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) and additional funds from the Education capital programme. The current provision within the approved capital programme (at Nov 2000 prices) is £5,139,000 for Lankhills and £1,948,000 for Shepherds Down; both amounts are inclusive of fees. Funding is from the following sources

	£000
Basic Credit Approval/Supplementary Credit Approval	3,437
Supplementary Credit Approval	1,000
Capital Receipt	2,000
Education Capital Programme	650
TOTAL	7,087

3.3 Following tender negotiations, the total cost of the scheme, as originally planned, is now estimated to be £8,817,000 (including fees). This is due to the effects of three years of building cost inflation since the schemes were originally added to the capital programme. During this period, there have been delays in securing funding from the DfES and lengthy consultations about the projects. A reassessment of the value of potential capital receipts to the level indicated in the December 2000 report, together with a reduction in the estimated Supplementary Credit Approval of £1m by £100,000, means that a further call of £730,000 from the contingency fund (a sum which can be funded from within the current capital programme resources) is required to provide a funding level of £8,467,000. The revised funding position is:

	£000
Basic Credit Approval/Supplementary Credit Approval	3,437
Supplementary Credit Approval	900
Capital Receipt	2,750
Education Capital Programme	1,380
TOTAL	8,467

3.4 This total level of funding is insufficient to meet the full estimated costs and £350,000 of external work, including fees, has been deferred whilst a further assessment of land values is completed during the summer. It is confidently anticipated that there will be an increase in capital values which will enable this work to be added back at a later date.

4. Seed Challenge scheme, 2002/03

4.1 The County Council has received a grant of £1.266m for Seed Challenge schemes in 2002/03, the third year of the scheme. The current year's allocation was £0.688m. The Seed Challenge scheme is intended to encourage external funding contributions to school capital projects aimed at raising educational standards and addressing the backlog of repairs on school sites. High priority items, identified in Asset Management Plans (AMPs), are expected to be allocated funding through the scheme.

4.2 Contributions from schools to Seed Challenge schemes are on the following basis:

	Minimum school ratio	Maximum grant ratio
Primary and Special	1 (50%)	1 (50%)
Secondary	2 (67%)	1 (33%)

4.3 The maximum amount of grant for any one scheme is £200,000. A school's contribution must consist of at least 75% "new money". The remainder can be from a school's own resources, e.g. balances or devolved capital grant. "New money" can include:

· private sector sponsorship

· profits from income on lettings or other school activities;

· general fund-raising;

· sale of land;

· charitable donations;

· National Lottery grants.

It cannot include interest earned on savings or recycled grant income, savings made from revenue budgets, or borrowing. When appraising submissions, officers have required "new money" to be available now.

4.4 There will be no opportunity to roll forward any grant not claimed on projects from one year to the next and grant not used for specific projects cannot be claimed by the LEA. 2002/03 projects must be completed by August 2003. The level of professional fees on projects must not exceed 15%.

Seed Challenge submissions received from schools

4.5 Schools were invited in December to make submissions for allocation of Seed Challenge grant. 24 projects were submitted. The total amount of grant sought was £1.541m.

4.6 Appendices 1 and 2 list the schemes for which bids have been received. Appendix 1 lists those schemes which are recommended for allocation of grant. Appendix 2 lists those schemes which are not recommended for allocation, because either new money was not available now, or because they did not meet the basic de minimis criteria. These are:

· for primary and special schools that the scheme cost should be greater than two years' devolved capital allocations plus the "new money" raised by the school;

· for secondary schools that the scheme cost is greater than £100,000;

· for special schools that the scheme cost is greater than £25,000.

4.7 In coming to this conclusion, consideration has been given to the DfES criteria for the aims of the scheme, which are set out below:

· grant should be allocated to address the most pressing accommodation needs;

· consideration should be given to the impact of proposed works on raising standards;

· grant should be used as an opportunity to fund curriculum-related building projects which may otherwise have a lower priority for funding.

4.8 Other factors taken into account include the following:

· links to existing capital programmes, which would enable a scheme to be enhanced to provide greater benefits to schools and take advantage of the cost reductions obtainable through having contractors on site;

· the opportunity to enhance substantial contributions from third parties, e.g. charities and developers.

4.9 Once the six schemes which did not meet the basic criteria were eliminated, there is sufficient funding to allow allocations to be made to all the others.

4.10 It is recommended, therefore, that the 18 schemes listed in Appendix 1, and requiring £1.265m of grant should, be added to the 2002/03 Education capital programme. £1,000 remains unallocated and it is recommended that this be retained as a nominal contingency. Schools have been informed that they will need to meet any increased costs.

5. Local Public Service Agreement - capital funding

5.1 The Cabinet approved on 29 October 2001 the submission of a proposed Local Public Service Agreement (LPSA) between the County Council and Government; the Agreement was signed on 29 January 2002. The Agreement includes four education targets, which are linked to the Education Development Plan. One of the targets is to secure further improvements to GCSE results, numbers of permanent exclusions and unauthorised absences at Bridgemary and Brune Park Community schools, Gosport. Limited Unsupported Credit Approvals (UCAs) were made available to the County Council as part of the LPSA arrangements and UCA of £200,000 was sought for each school to carry out capital improvements to assist with the delivery of the targets. There are basic need projects for both schools in the 2002/03 capital programme and it is recommended that £200,000 be added to the provision for each project. Detailed proposals for expenditure will be included when the project appraisals are submitted for approval.

6. Future use of Tankerville Special School, Eastleigh

6.1 Tankerville Special School, Eastleigh closes on 31 August 2002 as part of the Eastleigh/Winchester review of special school provision. The premises would normally be declared surplus to educational requirements and offered for sale. The capital funding arrangements for the review assume that the receipt from this sale will be used towards meeting the cost of new provision.

6.2 This Woodside Education Support Centre, Colden Common, operates from temporary buildings on a leased site. Despite an extensive search for suitable alternative premises, there are currently no viable options for replacement. Possible solutions would be either to reuse the Tankerville buildings, following suitable remodelling, refurbishment and repair, or to erect a new building on the school site, to provide permanent premises for the Education Support Centre. It is recommended that a feasibility study is undertaken on these options and that in the meantime no action is taken to declare the site surplus. The funding earmarked for the Eastleigh/Winchester reorganisation could be secured by use of NDS Modernisation funds in 2003/04, to replace the reduction in capital receipts originally expected in that year. If refurbishment were feasible and cost effective, it should be possible to meet the cost from Modernisation funding in 2002/03. If new build proves a more viable solution, additional funding would need to be made available in 2003/04. This approach is recommended and is consistent with the priority given to the improvement of PRU accommodation in the AMP.

7. New Deal for Schools Modernisation Fund

7.1 The County Council received SCAs totalling £18.5m for 2002/03 and 2003/04 under the NDS Modernisation Fund to meet the cost of major improvements to the suitability of schools' accommodation. The allocation was based on an assessment of needs identified through a major data gathering and analysis exercise to determine the use of schools' accommodation and its fitness to teach the curriculum, as part of the implementation of the County Council's Education Asset Management Plan (AMP).

7.2 The former Education Buildings Sub-Committee approved a Statement of Priorities under the AMP which identified the following areas of work as having high priority for the allocation of funding for improvement of accommodation:

Primary schools

· provision of a hall where there is no reasonable access to alternative facilities;

· provision of library, ICT and music/drama facilities

· replacement of poor quality temporary classrooms.

Secondary schools

· science laboratories;

· design technology and food technology facilities;

· music/drama facilities;

· indoor sports facilities.

Special schools

· specialist teaching facilities.

7.3 The Statement of Priorities also refers to the need to improve accommodation at Education Support Centres and to provide for early years education. Opportunities would also be taken, for example where poor quality temporary buildings are being replaced, to carry out additional work, such as the replacement of temporary buildings in reasonable condition, where this is sensible in economic terms and there is a long-term need.

7.4 A full programme for expenditure of the NDS Modernisation funding in accordance with these priorities will be submitted for approval by the Executive Member, Education in May. At this stage, it is proposed:

(a) to recommend a programme of expenditure in 2002/03 to allow design work to proceed as quickly as possible; and

(b) to suggest a split of funding among the priority categories of work set out above for 2003/04.

7.5 A proposed programme for 2002/03 is attached as Appendix 3. It includes the following projects:

(a) contributions to basic need schemes at Hounsdown Secondary School, Totton and Swanmore Secondary School to fund improvements to existing specialist accommodation and to carry out re-suiting (£213,000);

(b) replacement of poor quality temporary buildings at Buriton Primary School, Petersfield and Padnell Junior School, Cowplain (£261,000);

(c) replacement of a double temporary classroom in good condition at Marchwood Junior School, as part of a basic need project at the school (£229,000);

(d) science laboratory refurbishments at Cove Secondary, Farnborough, Harriet Costello Secondary, Basingstoke, Staunton Park Community, Havant and Yateley Community (£700,000);

(e) major refurbishment of design technology and home economics accommodation at Warblington Secondary School (£470,000);

(f) improvements to PRU accommodation in Andover and Basingstoke (£50,000);

(g) acoustic improvements to music accommodation at Brookfield School to comply with noise nuisance requirements (£100,000);

(h) nursery provision at Park Primary School, Aldershot (£122,000);

(i) provision of temporary accommodation for early years groups currently in condemned temporary buildings (£278,000);

(j) unallocated (£264,000). Possible use for refurbishment of Tankerville Special School building for use as an Education Support Centre (see section 6);

(k) contingency provision (£158,000).

7.6 The cost of these proposals (£2.845m) matches the provision in the 2002/03 capital programme.

7.7 For 2003/04, it is proposed to develop a programme based on the following split of resources among the priority categories of work:

Activity	£m
Temporary classroom replacements	3.00
Provision of primary school halls	1.50
Provision of primary school libraries and ICT facilities	1.10
Provision of primary school music/drama accommodation	1.10
Improvements to primary school playing fields	0.40
Secondary school science refurbishment	1.30
Secondary school design technology improvements	1.00
Secondary school food technology improvements	1.00
Improvements to specialist teaching facilities in special schools	1.50
Early years/foundation initiatives	0.65
Capital value of Tankerville School, Eastleigh	0.40
Education Support Centre improvements	0.50
Contingency	0.77
Total	14.22

8. Temporary classrooms

8.1 Approvals are sought to the placing of temporary classrooms at the schools listed below. Where suitable units are owned by the County Council, these will be used; otherwise new units will be hired.

Amery Hill Secondary School, Alton

8.2 A bid was made to the DfES in September last year for 261 basic need places. Owing to an error in the DfES only 66 places were approved, but confirmation has been received that the remaining places will be provided in the capital allocation for 2003/04 (see paragraph 2.1 above).

8.3 Owing to a rise in pupil numbers, the school has requested that a double temporary classroom be provided from September this year; this is in addition to a double temporary classroom provided last September. In September 2002 the number on roll is forecast to be 970, against a capacity, including the double temporary classroom already provided, of 967 places. The school is requesting the additional temporary accommodation to meet curriculum demands.

8.4 Discussions have been held with the headteacher and governors of the school about the need for additional temporary accommodation, as the number on roll in September will only be slightly above capacity. Agreement has been reached that the school would meet the costs of providing the temporary accommodation, with the LEA taking over the costs from September 2003 only if the number of pupils in the school at that time justified the continued provision of temporary accommodation. Confirmation has been obtained from the headteacher that the temporary accommodation would be removed on completion of the basic need extension at the school, which is planned for September 2004.

Berrywood Primary School, Hedge End

8.5 This school has a capacity of 630 places and is located in a housing development which generates more pupils at Year R than can be accommodated. Although there are places at other schools in the area, these are some distance from the development. The published admission number for the school is 90. The governors this year wished to accept all in-catchment pupils because it was very difficult, if not impossible, to separate the shortest walking distance for the 89^th, 90^th, 91^st and 92^nd pupils on the list of applications. Following discussions with officers, it was agreed that all first preference applications should be accepted and a single temporary classroom placed on site to cope with the additional pupils being accepted. The number on roll at present is 631 and in September is expected to be 660.

Hurst Community Secondary School, Baughurst, Tadley

8.6 This school has two double temporary classrooms which are currently used for community activities such as dance, art and judo. Unfortunately, the condition of these buildings has deteriorated and they can no longer be used, as they are unsafe.

8.7 The school has funding in its community budget to replace the buildings with a purpose-designed modular type building to provide more suitable accommodation for community activities. The building will provide a large open space and a higher ceiling, so activities such as dance and drama can take place in a more appropriate setting. The facility will also be available for school use. It is proposed that the new building is provided in time for the autumn term.

Pennington Infant School, Lymington

8.8 A playgroup is located in Priestlands Secondary School, Lymington and provides 24 places. Owing to a growth in numbers at Priestlands, the area occupied by the playgroup is required for mainstream use. The playgroup has been able to find alternative premises in the form of a new guide hut, but this is unlikely to be ready until some time in the 2002/03 academic year. Consequently the playgroup is temporarily homeless, pending the completion of the new accommodation. A report to the Education Policy Review Committee on 19 March 2002 recommended that, as an emergency provision, temporary classrooms be provided as an exception for early years groups. In that context, it is recommended that a double temporary classroom be placed on the site at Pennington Infant School for use by the playgroup, pending the completion of its new accommodation.

Perins Community School, Alresford

8.9 A basic need bid was submitted to extend the school by four teaching spaces and the funding for there is funding in the 2003/04 capital programme for an additional 89 places. Following the recent secondary admissions round, the number on roll for September 2002 is expected to be 897, 79 pupils more than at present; the capacity of the school is 824 places. In order to accommodate this growth in numbers it is recommended that two double temporary classrooms be placed on site pending the completion of the building works.

Vyne Secondary school, Basingstoke

8.10 The Vyne Community Pre-School was established in the Vyne School some seven years ago and provides 24 places for pre-school aged children. During that time the number of pupils at the school has grown and in September 2002 the school is over-subscribed for Year 7 admissions. As a result of needing to accommodate an increase in pupils, the school needs to take back the area currently occupied by the pre-school to provide curriculum facilities.

8.11 In order to continue to provide this much needed facility it is recommended that a temporary classroom be provided on the school site pending further discussions on providing a long term solution to the provision of pre-school facilities in the area. A working group has been established to pursue opportunities for providing a purpose-built facility on land adjacent to the school. It is intended to provide the temporary classroom, which will be adapted to provide the necessary accommodation for the pre-school, from September 2002.

Wildern Secondary School, Hedge End

8.12 There is provision in the 2002/03 capital programme to extend this school by 280 places in order to cater for the growth of numbers in the area. The school has agreed to accept 360 pupils in September 2002, which will take its number on roll to 1,663, with a capacity of 1,513. In order to accommodate the additional pupils it is recommended that two double temporary classrooms be placed on the site pending the completion of the building works which, are anticipated to be completed in September 2003.

Recommendations

1. That, subject to the approval of the Executive Member, Policy and Resources, the following variations to the 2002/03 Education capital programme be approved:

(a) provision for additional places at Bridgemary Community School, Gosport, be increased by £200,000;

(b) provision for additional places at Brune Park Community School, Gosport, be increased by £200,000;

(c) provision for additional places at Hounsdown School, Totton, be increased by £200,000;

(d) provision for additional places at Marchwood Junior School be increased by £229,000 to allow for the replacement of temporary accommodation;

(e) provision for additional places at Swanmore Secondary School be increased by £13,000;

(f) that the following named schemes be added to the programme:

Bay House Secondary School, Gosport: additional sixth form accommodation, at a cost of £614,000;

Buriton Primary School, Petersfield: replacement of temporary classroom, at a cost of £250,000;

Frogmore Secondary School, Yateley: additional sixth form places, at a cost of £716,000;

Ringwood Secondary School: additional sixth form places, at a cost of £276,000;

Warblington Secondary School, Havant: refurbishment of design technology and home economics accommodation at a cost of £470,000.

(g) that the allocation of Seed Challenge grant be approved for the schemes listed below:

: School	£ `000
Blackfield Junior	44
Botley Primary	79
Harrison Primary, Fareham	71
Netley Abbey Junior	160
Orchard Lea Junior, Fareham	84
Ranvilles Junior, Fareham	95
St. Lawrence Primary, Alton	50
Upham CE (A) Primary	55
Bridgemary Community, Gosport	33
Cams Hill Secondary, Portchester	36
Harriet Costello Secondary, Basingstoke	50
Henry Beaufort Secondary, Winchester	102
Kings' Secondary, Winchester	41
The Arnewood Secondary. New Milton	50
The Petersfield Secondary	190
Yateley Community	60
Icknield Special, Andover	15
Stubbington Study Centre, Gosport	50
Contingency	1
Total	1,266

(h) that minor works schemes totalling including £1.51m financed from NDS Modernisation funding be approved.

(i) that the contingency provision be increased by £158,000.

2. That the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services be authorised to negotiate for the provision of sixth form accommodation at Bay House Secondary School, Gosport with the successful tenderer for the 11-16 extension project.

3. That approval be given to investigating the feasibility of relocating the Woodside Education Support Centre, Colden Common, to the site of Tankerville Special School, Eastleigh.

4. That the strategy set out in paragraph 7.7 of this report be used as a basis for preparing a proposed 2003/04 programme for the New Deal for Schools Modernisation Fund for consideration by the Executive Member, Education in May 2002.

5. That approval be given for the applications for planning permission until 31 August 2006 for temporary classrooms to be placed on the following school sites:

Amery Hill Secondary School, Alton - double temporary classroom;

Berrywood Primary School Hedge End - single temporary classroom;

The Hurst Community School, Baughurst - purpose-designed temporary classroom;

Pennington Infant School, Lymington - double temporary classroom;

Perin's Community School, Alresford - two double temporary classrooms;

Vyne Secondary School, Basingstoke - double temporary classroom;

Wildern Secondary School, Hedge End - two double temporary classrooms.

6. That it be a RECOMMENDATION to the Executive Member, Policy and Resources, that the applications for the temporary classroom accommodation listed in recommendation 6 be approved until 31 August 2006.

Section 100D - 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.

None.