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

1. Summary

1.1 This report sets out proposed changes to the 2006/07 capital programme, proposals for the renewal of planning consent for temporary classrooms.

1.2 The proposals in this report support the Corporate Strategy "Maximising well-being" by proposing allocations of funding to improve the learning environments of Hampshire schools.

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

Children Act outcomes

1.4 The five outcomes specified in the Children Act are set out below, with a summary of how the proposals in this report contribute to their achievement:

· being healthy (enjoying good physical and mental health and living a healthy lifestyle): through proposals to encourage walking and cycling to and from school;

· staying safe (being protected from harm and neglect): by creating safe environments in schools, particularly through the separation of pedestrians and vehicles;

· enjoying and achieving (getting the most out of life and developing the skills for adulthood): by providing a high standard of education for children in suitable buildings;

· making a positive contribution (being involved with the community and society and not engaging in anti-social or offending behaviour): by encouraging the flexible use of accommodation;

· economic well-being (not being prevented by economic disadvantage from achieving their full potential in life): by ensuring that proposals will not disadvantage children and will protect equality of opportunity.

2. Amendments to the 2006/07 capital programme

Fees for progressing land sales

2.1 The 2004/05 and 2005/06 capital programmes included provision of £0.165m and £0.350m respectively to engage consultants to progress the sale of land to generate capital receipts for the programme. Of the total of £0.515m available, £0.298m has not been spent, as it has proved possible to progress a larger number of cases using internal staff resources than was originally anticipated. The balance of the provision is, therefore, available to be carried forward and added to the current year's resources and it is recommended that this amount is added to the contingency.

Capital investment in premises for children's social care

Children's homes

2.2 The 2006/07 capital programme includes provision of £0.250m for improvements to children's homes. This sum was identified when the capital programme was approved in January 2006, prior to a full assessment of the work required to bring the homes up to a desirable standard. This assessment of requirements has now been carried out and the costs of implementing the required improvements has been estimated at £0.732m. This sum includes projects identified as urgent, including fire precautions, security and health and safety works, costing about £0.350m.

2.3 It is not possible to fund all of the identified works in the current year, but in order to address the backlog it is proposed to earmark resources over a three year period (subject to funding being available in future years) to allow a structured improvement programme to be planned and implemented. To allow the most urgent works to be programmed as soon as possible, it is proposed to increase the provision in the current year's programme from £0.250m to £0.400m, using resources not required to progress land sales (see paragraph 2.1). This increased provision would also allow unforeseen requirements, such as those arising from Improvement Notices, to be programmed.

2.4 For 2007/08 and 2008/09 indicative provision of £0.300m p.a. is proposed. Again, this would allow other identified projects to be undertaken over a two year period and also provide resources for future unforeseen requirements.

Foster carers' homes

2.5 There is currently no provision for funding alterations to foster carers' homes, where these are required for example to provide separate bedrooms or to cater for additional foster children. In the past such alterations have been funded where possible from revenue, which puts additional strain on budgets which are already under pressure. It would be appropriate to make provision in the capital programme for a limited number of such projects which would be brought forward only where an appropriate business justification could be made and measures incorporated to safeguard the County Council's investment in properties in third party ownership.

2.6 Two cases are currently pending at an estimated cost of £0.120m. To fund these and to make provision for cases likely to arise in the future, it is proposed to make provision of £0.300m for this purpose in the current year's programme, using the balance of resources not spent on land sales (£0.148m) and an allocation from the contingency (£0.152m). For 2007/08 and 2008/09 indicative provision of £0.150m p.a. is proposed.

14-19 block vote

Yateley School

2.7 This school has identified a former technology space for development as a construction facility. This facility will be available for pupils from Yateley School as well as other schools in the area and local colleges. The work required to create the accommodation consists of stripping out of existing facilities, refurbishing the space and installing new equipment. Costs are estimated at £0.120m, of which the school would fund £0.060m. It is recommended that £0.060m is made available from the 14-19 block vote in the 2006/07 capital programme.

Bay House School, Gosport

2.8 Bay House School, Gosport has approached the County Council for support with the provision of an "Enterprise Academy", which would be available for use by pupils from Bay House and other local secondary schools.

2.9 The initiative is intended to provide an off-site facility for KS4 pupils at risk of disaffection to provide an opportunity to learn through business enterprise. The curriculum would be delivered for the group of pupils, expected to build up to 20 per year group, through an enterprise oriented approach centred on the acquisition of skills required to run a successful business. Functional skills will be delivered within a real context and the intention is that students will be sponsored by and linked to local businesses. Other approaches, focussed on the re-engagement of such students, have been tried elsewhere, but have lacked the resources and support necessary for sustainability.

2.10 The project would be delivered by providing two temporary buildings on a site owned by the Diocese of Portsmouth, adjoining a community hall, about a mile from the school. The costs of running the unit will be borne by the school, but its available devolved capital is committed to an urgent refurbishment of its sports hall. Contributions are also being sought from local businesses through the Institute of Directors and other funding sources.

2.11 A request has been received to assist with the implementation of the proposal by making available two temporary buildings from which the unit would operate. The estimated cost of this provision is £0.200m, which could be met from the contingency. If this request is approved, the County Council would retain ownership of the buildings and would make them available for use by the school free of charge. If the unit ceases to exist, the buildings could be removed from the site and reused elsewhere.

2.12 This is an innovative proposal which, if successful, could provide a useful precedent, with the potential for similar provision to be made elsewhere. With the financial safeguard of County Council ownership of the buildings, it is recommended that the request be approved and an allocation of £0.200m made from the contingency.

Swanwick Lodge Secure Unit

2.11 A bid was made to the DfES for capital funding of £0.525m to carry out improvement and refurbishment works at Swanwick Lodge Secure Centre. A letter has recently been received from the DfES confirming that ministers have given approval in principle to the application. It is not possible, at this stage, for confirmation to be given of the exact amount of the allocation until the tender costs are known and have been considered. However, any approval to proceed will be based on the understanding that the County Council will make a contribution of £0.020m towards the costs of the scheme. Under delegated powers, the Director of Children's Services has confirmed to the DfES that this contribution will be made (see paragraph 3.1 of this report).

2.12 The DfES requires details of the scheme based on a detailed brief, together with budget costs and a timetable for the works. The Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services now has this work in hand. A further report will be submitted once confirmation of the funding has been received from the DfES.

Milford-on-Sea Primary School

2.13 An application by the DfES on behalf of the Diocese of Winchester to carry out a comprehensive remodelling project at Milford-on-Sea Primary School was successful and attracted a grant of £1.384m. The proposed project includes replacement of temporary classrooms in poor condition, provision of community and music/drama facilities, relocation of the library and new staff and SEN accommodation.

2.14 The total estimated cost of the project is £1.798m. Contributions are being made from DfES block capital allocations for voluntary aided schools and from the school's devolved formula capital. The school's governing body is required to make a contribution of 10% of the overall cost, in common with all voluntary aided school schemes. For this project, the governors' contribution amounts to £0.178m. The school has approached the County Council with a request for a contribution of £0.075m, having raised the remainder.

2.15 The County Council has the powers to assist voluntary aided schools with capital projects and has done so on several occasions in the past. It is recommended that the Milford-on-Sea Primary School project should be assisted in the same way and that a contribution of £0.075m should be made to allow the project to proceed. As the project includes a proposal to relocate the pre-school from temporary to permanent accommodation, it is recommended that the contribution should be made from the provision for permanent early years accommodation.

Aviary Early Years Centre, Eastleigh

2.16 Work to create the Aviary Early Years Centre from the former Nightingale Infant School building was completed in 2005. At the time the project was undertaken, work was identified which was desirable, but could not be afforded at the time. The need for a full core offer children's centre in the area served by the Aviary EYC has been identified and a limited amount of additional building work would enable redesignation as a children's centre.

2.17 A project is proposed which would include provision of sensory, and medical inspection rooms, a baby changing area and additional toilet facilities, as well as other internal changes to allow increased use and external works. The estimated cost of the scheme is £0.155m. Although the cost could be met from the provision for children's centres, this funding is under great pressure and a recent review of likely commitments against the budget for replacing temporary early years facilities (£0.300m) indicates that it is unlikely to be fully committed by the end of the financial year. It is proposed, therefore, to use £0.155m of this provision to fund the proposed works at the Aviary EYC.

Specialist schools allocations

2.18 Notifications have been received from the DfES of capital allocations for two schools which have been awarded specialist school status. These are listed in Table 1. The allocation for each school is £0.100m.

Table 1

School	Specialism	Funding source
Noadswood, Dibden	Sport	Grant
Test Valley, Stockbridge	Mathematics and computing	Grant

2.19 It is recommended that £0.200m is added to the capital programme to reflect these allocations.

3. Action taken by the Director of Children's Services

3.1 Under delegated powers, and following consultation with the Executive Member (with special responsibility) for Education, the following action has been taken and it is recommended that formal approval is now given to the following allocations:

· £0.020m from the 14-19 block vote in the 2006/07 capital programme for development of a hairdressing facility at Linden Education Centre, Farnborough, in line with the development of new vocational qualifications, as part of the 14-19 agenda. The centre is contributing £0.005m from its own budget;

· £0.015m from the block vote for health and safety to improve security fencing at Wavell School, Farnborough. The fencing will complement the installation of a new gate to the main entrance which the school is funding at a cost of £0.005m;

· £0.002m from the block vote for health and safety at Liss Infant School to clear and secure on-site balancing pond. Contributions of £0.002m were also made by Policy and Resources and by the school;

· £0.005m from the block vote for health and safety to replace damaged drains and repair subsidence in the playground at Barncroft Infant School. Contributions of £0.005m were also made by Policy and Resources and by the school;

· £0.040m from the block vote for the management of falling rolls towards the cost of converting two surplus classrooms into a community health and fitness facility at Horndean Technology College. This proposal supports the County Council's strategy to manage surplus capacity in schools. The balance of the cost of £0.100m is being met by the school;

· £0.020m from the capital programme contingency as the County Council's contribution to the costs of the improvement project at Swanwick Lodge Secure Unit referred to in paragraphs 2.11 and 2.12;

· £0.002m from the capital programme contingency for the costs of moving an electricity supply pole at South Baddesley Primary School to enable the school's playing field to be brought into use following major building works which required the field to be relocated. The school is unable to meet this cost as its resources have been fully committed in supporting the recent building project.

4. County Council Policy Requirements

4.1 Legal implications - The proposals support the County Council's statutory duty to provide school places and comply with central government accommodation requirements and guidance.

4.2 Financial implications - These are set out in the report.

4.3. Personnel implications - None directly arising from this report.

4.4 Community cohesion, inclusiveness and partnership working - Most of the capital projects proposed in this report support these aims.

4.5 Crime prevention issues - None directly arising from this report.

Recommendations

1. That the Executive Member for Children's Services recommends the Executive Member for Policy and Resources to approve the following variations to the 2006/07 capital programme:

(a) the carry forward of unspent resources totalling £0.298m from the 2005/06 capital programme, to be added to the 2006/07 contingency;

(b) the addition of resources of £0.150m from the contingency to increase the provision for improvements to children's homes to £0.400m;

(c) the addition of resources of £0.300m from the contingency to fund improvements to foster carers' homes;

(d) the addition of resources of £0.200m for minor works for specialist schools, funded through Government grant.

2. That the following variations to the 2006/07 Education capital programme be approved:

(a) the allocation of £0.060m from the 14-19 block vote as a contribution to the costs of a building construction facility at Yateley Community School;

(b) the allocation of £0.200m from the contingency to fund the provision of temporary buildings for an Enterprise Academy at Bay House, School, Gosport;

(c) a grant of £0.075m towards the cost of a major project at Milford-on-Sea Church of England Aided Primary School;

(d) the allocation of £0.155m from the provision for replacing early years temporary buildings to fund a project at Aviary Early Years Centre, Eastleigh to enable it to be designated as a full core children's centre;

(e) the allocation of £0.020m from the 14-19 block vote for development of a hairdressing facility at Linden Education Centre, Farnborough;

(f) the allocation of £0.015m from the block vote for health and safety to improve security fencing at Wavell School, Farnborough;

(g) the location of £0.002m from the block vote for health and safety at Liss Infant School to clear and secure an on-site balancing pond at Liss Infant School;

(h) the allocation of £0.005m from the block vote for health and safety to replace damaged drains and repair subsidence in the playground at Barncroft Infant School, Havant;

(i) £0.040m from the block vote for the management of falling rolls towards the cost of converting two surplus classrooms into a community health and fitness facility at Horndean Technology College;

(j) £0.020m from the contingency as the County Council's contribution to the costs of the improvement project at Swanwick Lodge Secure Unit;

(k) £0.002m from the contingency for the costs of moving an electricity supply pole at South Baddesley Primary School.

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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.