Archived decisions

Hampshire County Council

Buildings Land and Procurement Panel

4 April 2006

Portchester Community School, Fareham

Report by the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services

How the conclusion in this report fits with the Corporate Strategy

This scheme will impact on the delivery of all Corporate Aims, focusing most immediately on:

Aim 1 - maximising life opportunities: the proposal to refurbish two science laboratories, provide a specialist performance space and improved accessibility around the school site will have an immediate benefit for the school.

Aim 5 - improving services: all users of the proposed new facilities will benefit from these proposals.

1

Summary

1.1

Portchester Community is a comprehensive school for 11 to 16 year olds with a current number on roll of 833 pupils. The school is a fully resourced school for physically disabled pupils, with a large number of physically disabled pupils accessing the first floor of the main teaching building, in order for the school to effectively deliver the curriculum. The school lies within a residential area in the heart of Portchester

1.2

In the 2004/05 and 2005/06 financial years the school has received various funding allocations to undertake access improvements; reorganise the school entrance and administration office's; create specialist physiotherapy, hygiene and medical rooms; create conference and meeting rooms; make improvements to the science facilities and create specialist arts accommodation to enable the school to gain specialist arts college status.

1.3

A major project with a value of just below £800,000, excluding fees, completed during July 2005, was the first phase of works to reorganise the school reception and administration areas, undertake internal alterations to create specialist accommodation and make various access improvements across the site. The proposals are to use the remaining funding from the 2005/06 financial year and with some additional funding from 2006/07 to undertake a second and final phase of work to complete the necessary work at this school.

1.4

The Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services has progressed the design proposals for this final phase of work and a design solution has been agreed. The purpose of this report is to seek approval to a major project at this school , with an estimated cost of £699,032, excluding fees.

2

Scope of the Works

2.1

It is proposed to undertake internal alterations to the existing library in the main teaching block of the school building to create a new performance space. This will be achieved by way of internal modifications and decorations to the existing double height library space and will include a new semi-sprung floor, lighting, rigging and sound system appropriate for a performance space. Locating the performance space in this area will enable a suiting of the music, drama and arts accommodation in one area of the school.

2.2

Adjacent to the performance space, two existing accessible toilets, one located on the ground floor and one on the first floor, will be refurbished. The library will be relocated elsewhere on the site to an existing SCOLA building currently occupied by the IT Suite, which will be relocated into the main teaching block. Minimal redecorations will enable these accommodation changes which will have an immediate benefit for the school in regards to suiting of accommodation and overall effective delivery of the curriculum.

2.3

Two science laboratories located in the main teaching block will be slightly enlarged and refurbished, to include new ceiling and floor coverings, new benching and storage. Part of this refurbishment will include the relocation of the Head of Department's office and chemical store to elsewhere in the teaching block.

2.4

A fire escape lift will be constructed to the north wing of the two storey teaching block. The shaft will be of a brick construction to match the existing building and the lift will be capable of taking two wheelchair users and their assistants at a time. A fire escape already exists within this large building, however, following a fire safety risk assessment it was concluded that a second fire escape would be necessary to effectively evacuate the building in the event of a fire.

2.5

Various works around the school site will be undertaken to improve accessibility and to comply with DDA regulations. These will include the installation of automatic doors, new signage, ramps, handrails and kick-plates and corner guards to protect from wheelchair user's.

2.6

As part of these proposals, the existing rear car park will be resurfaced. New drainage connections will be made as the existing area is served by a soak-away system which is not currently adequate to support the drainage requirements of the car park.

3

Planning

3.1

Planning permission for the fire escape lift proposals outlined in this report has been granted. All other works are deemed to be permitted development and a planning application is not required.

4

Procurement

4.1

The major project completed at this school during July 2005 was traditionally tendered and competitively won by Brymor Contractors Ltd. This contractor successfully completed these major works and a similar major project at the nearby Brookfield Community School. The contractor's project team has previously worked well with the buildings users and the design team and the contractor has the necessary resources available to complete this phase of work in the required timescale. At the October 2005 meeting of the Executive Member Policy and Resources approval was given to negotiate this second and final phase of work at Portchester Community School with Brymor Contractor Ltd.

5

Funding and Timing

5.1

Funding for these proposals is as follows, excluding fees: £

Schools Access Initiative - 2005/06 260,870

Schools Access Initiative - 2006/07 43,478

NDS Modernisation - 2005/06 86,956

NDS Modernisation - 2006/07 69,565

Specialist Schools College Status (Arts) - 2005/06 86,956

Policy and Resources 2005/06 - External Works budget 15,000

School - Devolved Capital (TBC) 136,207

699,032

5.2

Subject to the necessary approvals it is anticipated that negotiations with Brymor Contractors Ltd will commence during March 2006, work will commence on site during July/August 2006 and be completed during January /February 2007.

6

Consultation with Local Member

6.1

Councillor Roger Price, the local Member for this area, has been consulted on the proposals and fully supports the scheme. Councillor Price expressed his concern regarding the programme of works and was hopeful that a completion during late 2006 could be achieved. He was also concerned about how the internal work would be managed as he did not want the pupils' education to be disrupted.

6.2

It has been confirmed to Councillor Price that an earlier start and completion date is not possible as much of the work is timed to coincide with the start of the school summer holiday. Property Services will be working closely with the headteacher on the timing and phasing of the work to ensure that disruption is kept to a minimum. A contractor who has previous experience of, and a strong working relationship with the school has been selected to work on the project.

Conclusion

This scheme will provide improved fire evacuation facilities, refurbished and upgraded science laboratories and a new performance space by way of internal alterations. Also improved accessibility around the site along with improved car parking facilities.

Recommendation

That the Buildings Land and Procurement Panel advises the Executive Member for Policy and Resources that the report for the Portchester Community School scheme at an estimated cost of £699,032, excluding fees, be approved.