Archived decisions

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

Decision Report :

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1) Summary of Decision Area:

1.1. This report seeks approval to the design proposal for an Adult Learning Centre and crèche at the Hurst Community College, Tadley.

2) Issues Covered in Report:

The following areas are outlined in this report:

2.1. Although funding for the project has already been approved this report outlines the estimated costs and sources of funding.

2.2. Any significant issues from either the Risk or Combined Impact Assessment which will need to have specific attention in the design or implementation of this project.

2.3. The detail of the proposed design is laid out for approval.

3) Recommendations:

3.1. That the Executive Lead Member for Children's Services (Education) approves the design for the proposed Adult Learning Centre at the Hurst Community College, Tadley at an estimated total cost of £713,000 (including fees of £91,000)

MAIN REPORT

1) Scope of Work:

1.1. Following a successful bid to the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), it is proposed to provide purpose-built learning facilities and a crèche at The Hurst Community College to replace the current provision in temporary classrooms.

2) Contextual Information:

2.1. The Hurst Community College is a comprehensive school with Specialist Science Status. The current capacity is 1,075 and there are approximately 1,050 pupils (11-16 years) attending the school. The proposal will not provide any additional pupil places.

2.2. The Hurst is a full service extended school, offering education facilities to parents and children during the evenings, after school, at weekends and during holiday periods.

2.3. The community provision is currently undertaken in two existing temporary buildings on the site. One of these temporary buildings is located within the main school campus and will remain on site to be used by the school for teaching accommodation. However, the other temporary building is attached to the Sports Centre and currently houses a temporary crèche facility. This building will be removed on completion of the extension works.

2.4. The scheme will be procured through a traditional tender process. It is anticipated that tenders will be invited during July 2009 and that works will commence on site during October 2009 and be completed during March 2010.

2.5. The Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services has progressed the design proposals for the scheme at The Hurst School and the purpose of this report it to outline and seek approval to the proposals.

2.6. The proposed scheme will maximise wellbeing and enhance the quality of place by providing a purpose-built classroom and associated crèche area to replace the existing temporary building which is used for adult education and community purposes.

3) Finance:

3.1. Capital Expenditure:

a) The Capital Expenditure has already been approved; the following tables outline the breakdown its distribution across the project:

* The means by which the difference between the Current Estimate and the Capital Programme allocation is to be met are shown in the table below:

3.2. Sources of Funding:

** The LSC funding for this project was confirmed in July 2008, before the much publicised financial problems at the LSC. In the absence of notification to the contrary, it is assumed that this funding is guaranteed. Nevertheless, officers believe that it is prudent to get confirmation of the funding before starting this project. The project will not be let without confirmation of this in place.

a) Building Cost:

Net Cost = £1,918 per m²

Gross Cost = £2,204 per m²


b) Furniture & Equipment:

A separate allocation for F&E will be made at the end of the construction phase.

a. Revenue Issues:

i. Overview of Revenue Implications:

Please Note: The overall level of the revenue budget for funding schools will (from April 2006) be prescribed by central government, and capital projects have no bearing on the level of this budget. Therefore, this proposed project will have no bearing on the overall level of the Children's Services budget, extra costs and savings being met from the same overall schools' funding level.

ii. Energy Costs:

The estimated annual energy consumption for the new accommodation will meet that required by current Building Regulations. It is anticipated that the increase in energy cost will be £1,660 per annum (£7.18m² per annum). The additional CO² consumption will be 10 tonnes per year. These calculations reflect energy use for the new extension. However, it should be noted that one temporary classroom will no longer be in use and this is likely to reduce the overall energy consumption for the school.

c) Risk & Impact Issues:

Please see Appendix A for a summary of the risk and impact issues considered in relation to the design of this project.

d) Details of site and existing Infrastructure:

a. One existing temporary classroom is located to the north of the site, close to other school buildings, and will remain in use as an additional school teaching space.

b. The proposed new building will be attached to the Sports Centre complex.

c. It is anticipated that mains services will be sufficient to be extended to serve the new building.

d. The existing principal boiler has reached the end of its economic life and will be replaced as part of this scheme.

e) Scope of the Project:

a. The new classroom will provide a flexible space, with sliding/folding acoustic partitioning to allow the room be divided into two separate spaces as required, for adult education and community use including:

· short courses

· meetings

· dance, movement and similar activities

· examinations

b. A second space will provide an Ofsted registered sessional crèche for the adult learning customers. The combination of the classroom and crèche spaces avoids unauthorised adult presence within the main school campus during the day.

c. The accommodation will also provide an accessible toilet with baby-change facility.

d. No increase in numbers is anticipated and therefore no additional parking will be provided.

f) The Proposed Building:

a. The proposed extension will provide purpose-built, single-storey accommodation of brick construction with a low pitch, high-performance roof to the circulation and crèche areas. The larger, flexible space will have a mono-pitch roof clad in profiled metal, with high-level glazing.

b. Windows and doors will be powder-coated aluminium, double-glazed units. The Centre's main entrance has automatic entrance doors.

c. The new accommodation has been designed with level access throughout.

g) External Works:

a. The new building will be located on a site that is currently used as an external recreation area.

b. The proposals will involve the removal of some existing trees in order to facilitate the footprint of the extension, but since the site has a considerable number of mature trees it is not considered that this will be detrimental to the area.

c. The site of the existing crèche will be grassed following removal of the building, to form an additional school field area.

d. On completion of the works, landscaping will include shrub planting and the provision of an external play area adjacent the crèche.

h) Planning:

A planning application was submitted during April 2009.

i) Building Management:

Existing arrangements to continue.

j) Professional Resources:

Mechanical and Electrical ) RHB Partnership

Quantity Surveying ) Selway Joyce Partnership

Structural Engineering ) Property, Business and Regulatory Services

Architectural ) Property, Business and Regulatory Services

k) Consultations:

The following have been consulted during the development of this project and any relevant feedback can be seen in Appendix B.

Local County Councillor

School/Governors

Children's Services

Fire Officer

Access Officer

Planning Department

CORPORATE OR LEGAL INFORMATION:

Appendix A

RISK & COMBINED IMPACT ASSESSMENT:

Race and Equality Impact assessment

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

Crime prevention issues

The County Council has a legal obligation under Section 17 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 to consider the impact of all the decisions it makes on the prevention of crime. The proposals in this report have no impact on the prevention of crime.

Fire risk assessment

In consultation with the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, a fire risk assessment concludes that this is a low fire risk category building. Therefore a sprinkler system will not be installed.

Health and safety

A designer's risk assessment and a design health and safety plan, in accordance

with the Construction Design and Management Regulations 2007, have been undertaken for the proposed scheme.

Climate Change

The existing boiler installation will be replaced with new high efficiency gas-fired condensing boilers to serve the existing installation and new extension.

The new extension will be heated using underfloor heating and will be provided with natural ventilation.

The lighting to the new extension will be provided using high-efficiency fluorescent luminaires.

The new building will be highly insulated to meet Building Regulation Standards of thermal performance.

Appendix B

FEEDBACK FROM CONSULTEES:

OTHER EXECUTIVE MEMBERS:

OTHER FORMAL CONSULTEES: