Archived decisions

REPORT OF THE

EDUCATION POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE

PART II

EDUCATION CAPITAL PROGRAMME ISSUES

1. The Education Policy Review Committee has considered a report summarising major achievements through the Education capital programme in recent years. The Committee wish to advise the County Council of issues arising from the report in relation to the importance of continuing investment in education facilities in future years.

2. Since 2002/03, annual funding levels for the Education capital programme have been between £37m and £50m (£40m in the current year) and have covered:

· New primary schools and a replacement secondary school;


· Additional pupil places in primary and secondary schools;


· Improvements to the quality and sustainability of school buildings;


· Provision of and improvements to specialist facilities, including music/drama/ICT/science, food and technology;


· Replacement of temporary accommodation;


· Early years provision;


· Improvements for children with special educational needs;


· Removal of surplus places, involving remodelling and improvement of existing school buildings;


· Improvements to staff accommodation and


· Schools' access and security improvements.


The scale of the programme and the resources involved have allowed significant improvements to be made to school buildings, thus enriching the education environment for pupils, staff and the community.

3. The County Council's investment in the built estate, particularly schools, has been significantly enhanced recently through New Deal for Schools and other central government and other funding initiatives. However, the Committee is aware that whilst substantial capital resources will continue from central government, there are also major uncertainties. For example, the Targeted Capital Fund initiative which invites LEA's each year to make bids for capital support up to £5m per project is presently under review. Also, Building Schools for the Future (BSF) a recent government strategy intended to invest significant capital funding into secondary whole school replacement as well as remodelling and refurbishment, has as part of its priority criteria, a range of non-building related issues. This means that LEAs with high achieving pupils and relatively low numbers of free school meals will feature very low in its ranking order. However, given the scale and nature of investment under BSF, Hampshire has submitted "expressions of interest" in relation to a package of projects. The DfES is due to make its announcements for 2006/07 in relation to such capital support in October/November 2004.

4. In the short-term, the above changes in central government funding will mean reductions of £10m p.a. in the County Council's capital allocations, with no firm assurance of when large-scale investments will again be available. The Committee in acknowledging this, wish to advise the County Council to continue investment in educational facilities by all means possible. Also, to maintain dialogue with central government on support for capital investment, with particular regard to the Building Schools for the Future programme.

M.J. KENDAL

Chairman

8FR641004