Contact: Bob Eardley, Strategic Planning Manager, 01962 846275. Email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 This report sets out proposed changes to the 2004/05 capital programme.

1.2 The proposals in this report support Aim 1 of the Corporate Strategy (Maximising life opportunities) by proposing allocations of funding to improve the learning environments of Hampshire schools and Aim 2 (Stewardship of the environment) by providing capital funding to implement school travel plans..

1.3 Race and equality impact assessment has been considered in the development of this report and no adverse impact has been identified.

2. Amendments to the 2004/05 capital programme

School Travel Plans - capital allocations

2.1 The DfES has recently announced capital allocations to a number of schools which have produced School Travel Plans (STPs) authorised by the County Education Officer and Director of Environment and in place by 31 March 2004. The grant is intended to help schools to support sustainable travel to school and DfES expects the funding to be spent on measures identified in their STPs, such as secure cycle parking, lockers and bus bays. This funding supports projects aimed at reducing car use and improving health through walking and cycling to and from school; it contributes positively to Aim 2 of the Corporate Strategy: Stewardship of the Environment, through improving travel choices.

The grant is payable at the following rates:

· Primary schools: £3,750 per school, plus £5 per pupil

· Secondary schools: £5,000 per school, plus £5 per pupil

2.2 Grant is paid as an addition to schools' devolved capital and the amount allocated to Hampshire in 2004/05 is £0.498m. and it is recommended that this sum is added to resources for schools' devolved capital allocations for 2004/05.

Disability Discrimination Act - Grants from DfES

2.3 The DfES has made two grant allocations to the County Council for work to be carried out to comply with the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA). The grants are £0.134m for Youth Service premises and £0.592m for adult and community learning facilities and the works required have been identified following an access audit in 2003.

2.5 It is recommended that DfES grant totalling £0.726m is added to provision for minor works in the 2004/05 capital programme.

William Price Trust - interest accrued

2.6 The 2001-2002 capital programme included provision of £1m from the William Price Trust, an educational charity operating in Fareham, to fund improvements to schools in that area. Allocations were made to a number of schools in the Fareham area to carry out capital projects, most of which have now been completed. While the grant has been held pending expenditure being incurred, interest totalling £0.111m has accrued and is now available to supplement capital programme resources. It is recommended that the accrued interest of £0.111m be added to the 2004/05 capital programme.

3. Rachel Madocks School - post-16 accommodation

3.1 Rachel Madocks School, Havant, occupies 55 Crossway, Havant as an off- site base for post-16 students, for small group teaching and life skills. The changing nature of the school population, with more students having higher levels of need and complex behaviour, coupled with limitations on accessibility in a two storey house, significantly reduce the use to which this property can be put. As a consequence, most post-16 provision is now made on the main school site. A scheme has, therefore, been designed to enhance facilities on the main school site, funded from the sale of 55 Crossway and the school's devolved capital.

3.2 The Executive Member for Education has decided that this property should be declared surplus. The capital receipt from its disposal is needed to fund the proposed facilities at the school. Approval is, therefore, sought to retain 100% of the capital receipt for this purpose.

4. Whitchurch CE Primary School

4.1 A basic need project to provide an additional 60 places at Whitchurch CE Primary Schools is included in the published 2005/06 Education Capital Programme. The school is coming under increasing pressure to meet the demand for these additional places that will need to be provided for September 2005 admissions. In order for the additional places to be provided in this timescale, design works have commenced with a view to letting a contract before the end of this financial year.

4.2 Therefore it is proposed that the project, at the budget cost of £0.500m be brought forward from 2005/06 programme into the 2004/05 programme and to be funded from the currently unallocated balance of capital receipts as reported to the Executive Member, for Education on 21 July 2004.

5. Temporary classrooms

5.1 Approvals are sought for the continued siting of temporary classrooms at the schools listed below. In all cases, approval is sought for units to remain on site until 31 October 2008. In some cases reference is made to consideration of earlier removal, usually because of building projects, or because of an anticipated reduction in numbers on roll.

Bridge Education Centre, Eastleigh

5.2 Two small temporary units are located on this site and are used by the local Behaviour Support Team. A project to replace the Bridge Education Centre in permanent accommodation in the buildings of the former Tankerville School, Eastleigh is included in the 2004/05 capital programme; pending implementation of that project, it is recommended that planning permission for retention of the temporary units is sought.

Knightwood Primary, Chandlers Ford

5.3 The permanent accommodation at this school is 345 places, with a further 55 places provided in temporary accommodation, giving a total of 400 places. A public notice was issued in March 2003 to increase the standard number from 30 to 45 in order to meet the demand for places. The school were allowed to offer 60 places for the 2003/04 and 2004/05 academic years. owing to the number of pupils from within the catchment area. The current temporary accommodation will be required until these two year groups move into secondary education and approval is, therefore, sought for the renewal of planning permission for a further four years.

Limington House, Basingstoke

5.4 This school caters for pupils with severe learning difficulties, aged between 2 and 19. The temporary accommodation at this site is used for nursery pupils and there is no prospect of replacing it with permanent build in the near future. Approval is, therefore, sought for the renewal of planning permission for a further four years.

Marlborough Infant, Aldershot

5.5 The permanent accommodation at this school is 109 places, with a further 60 places provided in temporary accommodation, giving a total of 169 places. The current number on roll is 127. The forecast number on roll is being monitored closely in light of the pupil turbulence caused by the local military community and new housing developments in the area, but the temporary accommodation is required for the immediate future. Therefore, approval is sought for renewal of planning permission.

Medecroft Opportunity Centre, Winchester

5.6 Medecroft Opportunity Centre occupies a small area on the King Alfred's College site, in Winchester. There are two small temporary units on the site, one used as a staffroom and the other used as a base for the administrative staff. The centre is to be relocated as part of the Winchester Early Years Centre project which is expected to be completed by September 2005. Therefore approval is sought for the renewal of planning permission until October 2006.

Newtown Soberton Infant, Fareham

5.7 The single temporary classroom on this site is used to provide a 15 place pre-school. This accommodation is much needed, due to the limited facilities available within this rural school and there is currently no longer-term permanent solution. Approval is, therefore, sought for the renewal of planning permission for a further four years.

St Luke's CE Primary, Sway

5.8 The permanent accommodation at this school is 174 places, with a further 30 places provided in temporary accommodation, giving a total of 204 places. The current number on roll is 200. The school is currently being extended by one classroom to bring its capacity to a full 1FE primary school but the temporary unit will be retained to provide a music/drama space for the school. Approval is sought for renewal of planning permission.

Recommendations

1. That the following variations to the 2004/05 Education capital programme be approved:

(a) the addition of resources totalling £1.335m:

£0.498m from DfES grant for capital works in connection with School Travel Plans;

£0.134m from DfES grant for Youth Service premises under the Disability Discrimination Act;

£0.592m from DfES grant for adult education premises under the Disability Discrimination Act;

£0.111m interest on a grant from the William Price Trust.

(b) Whitchurch CE Primary basic need project be brought forward from 2005/06 capital programme into the 2004/05 programme and funded from the unused balance of capital receipts at a budget of £0.500m

2. That 100% of the proceeds from the sale of 55 Crossway, Havant be made available towards the cost of a project for the replacement post-16 facilities at Rachel Madocks School, Cowplain.

3. That the applications for temporary classroom accommodation listed below are approved until 31 October 2008:

Bridge Education Centre, Colden Common - two single units

Knightwood Primary School, Chandler's Ford - one double unit

Limington House School, Basingstoke - nursery unit

Marlborough Infant School, Farnborough - one double unit

Medecroft Opportunity Centre, Winchester - two single units

Newtown Soberton Primary School - one single unit

St. Luke's Primary School, Sway - one single unit

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.