Archived decisions

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

Decision Report :

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1) Summary of Decision Area:

1.1. This report sets out proposed changes to the 2009/10 capital programme and makes proposals for locating temporary classrooms.

2) Issues Covered in Report:

2.1. This report considers schemes which it is proposed are added to the 2009/10 capital programme.

3) Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

3.1. £0.250m including fees be transferred from the contingency to a fund a project at Weeke Primary School Winchester, in the 2009/10 capital programme.

3.2. £0.430m be added to the 2009/10 capital programme to be funded through prudential borrowing for a project at Crofton Secondary School, Fareham.

3.3. the approval of the Executive Member for Policy and Resources be sought for applications for planning consent until 31 August 2013 for temporary classrooms at:

a) Weeke Primary School, Winchester - one double temporary classroom;

b) Park Community School, Havant - one double temporary classroom (to be confirmed).

MAIN REPORT

1) Contextual information

1.1. 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 which include the encouragement of walking and cycling to and from school, the provision of health advice through children's centres and co-location with the Health Service;

· staying safe (being protected from harm and neglect): by creating safe environments in schools, children's centres, children's homes and carers' homes;

· enjoying and achieving (getting the most out of life and developing the skills for adulthood): by providing a high standard of education and care 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 and creative 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, will protect equality of opportunity and support children from no or low income families to secure skills and qualifications.

2) Amendments to the 2009/10 capital programme

Weeke Primary School, Winchester

2.1. The number of primary aged children in Winchester is showing an increase up to 2011/12. Historically, the number of four year olds advised by the Primary Care Trust data has exceeded the number of Year R places, but a proportion have not sought places in maintained schools.

2.2. Demand for Year R admissions in September 2008 was such that Weeke Primary School agreed to increase its PAN from 40 to 45. To enable the school to accommodate this number in future years, the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services (PBRS) has produced a feasibility study to provide for an additional classroom. It is recommended that £0.250m, including fees, is transferred from the 2009/10 contingency to support this scheme.

2.3. Paragraph 4.1 of this report refers to a further increase in the school PAN to 60. It is proposed that this is managed by a double temporary classroom whilst the existing uncertainty in demand is monitored to determine if there is a longer term need.

2.4. Crofton Secondary School, Fareham

2.5. The need for an Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) provision at Crofton School, to be funded by £500,000 of prudential borrowing was approved by Cabinet on 27 October 2008. Cabinet subsequently approved the borrowing. The cost of the project is estimated to be £830,000.

2.6. £400,000 of Schools Access Initiative funding for this was included in the January 2009 capital programme report, meaning that only £430,000 of borrowing will be required.

2.7. It is recommended that £430,000 be added to the 2009/10 Capital Programme in respect of this borrowing.

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

3.1. Under delegated powers, and following consultation with the Executive Lead Member for Children's Services (Education) it is recommended that formal approval to a contribution of £0.050m for a project to provide a sports hall at Dove House Special School, Basingstoke, is transferred from the 2009/10 contingency.

4) Temporary classrooms

New temporary classrooms

Weeke Primary School, Winchester

4.1. The school has a capacity of 280 places with 284 on roll. Paragraph 1.4 refers to the project to provide the school with 11 permanent classrooms (in line with their organisational capacity arising from admitting 45 children to each of seven year groups).

4.2. There is further pressure with numbers in the catchment area of the school and across the wider Winchester area. Therefore, the County Council, in consultation with the school governors, has agreed to increase the school's PAN to 60. It is recommended that this increase is managed initially by a double temporary classroom.

4.3. It is recommended that approval from the Executive Member for Policy and Resources is sought to submit a planning application for the siting of a double temporary classroom until August 2013. The cost can be met from the 2008/09 revenue budget for temporary classroom provision.

Park Community School, Havant

4.4. The school has a capacity of 900 places with 893 on roll.

4.5. The school wishes to expand its community provision, to include facilities for adult education and a multi-purpose medical room. It has funding available to support the location of two double temporary classrooms to meet this need. Initial discussions have been held with the school about whether permanent provision could be afforded instead of temporary classrooms, which would provide a much better solution in the longer-term. Permanent building could also be designed to be complementary to a wider solution to the school's accommodation needs as part of Building Schools for the Future (BSF), with Park being included in the first phase.

4.6. If a permanent solution cannot be achieved at this stage, however, temporary classrooms could be used to meet the need, pending BSF investment. It is recommended, therefore, that approval from the Executive Member for Policy and Resources is sought to submit a planning application for the siting of a double temporary classroom until August 2013. The cost can be met from the 2009/10 revenue budget for temporary classroom provision.

5) Conclusions:

5.1. This report sets out a proposed change to the 2009/10 capital programme and makes proposals for locating temporary classrooms.

6) Recommendations:

Please see Executive Summary for recommendations.

CORPORATE OR LEGAL INFORMATION: