To comment on the Cabinet report.

The Panel considered the Cabinet report relating to an update to the schools capital programme.

The Panel were informed that in July 2016, Cabinet approved a growth in the capital budget for secondary school places for expansions at six.  This programme was designed to meet the demand arising from the population growth currently passing through the primary school system.

This report set out the detail of the tender returns for two of the schemes, at Charters academy and Cox Green academy.  The report also sought approval to accept the tender for a section 106 funded scheme which will provide a total of 30 new places at Newlands Girls academy.

The report also outlined the planned schools maintenance programme that had been prioritised by need.  The funds for this came from a decreasing government grant that was ring fenced.  The Council decision not to provide additional funding for the expansion of Lowbrook Academy had resulted in the release of committed capital and the report requested Cabinet to redirect some of that funding to cover a shortfall in the budget for school maintenance schemes. 

Cllr Jones questioned if the schemes in table 7, proposed maintenance programme, had been fully costed and was informed that the schemes had been reviewed and costed.  Cllr Jones requested that officers meet with her to go over the costings and where the funds were coming from.

Cllr Story questioned why there was such as variance between costs per place, as shown in table 9.  The Panel were informed that costs varied depending on the type of expansion work being undertaken, for example it would be cheaper to construct a lean to extension to an existing building then undertaking certain internal re-configuration of a school.  The would also be other variances depending on each schools needs and building equipment needed for specific sites, for example Newlands was a restricted site.  It was confirmed that value for money was taken into account when deciding to undertake an expansion programme.

Cllr N Airey and Mr P Louden explained that Cox Green’s expansion required significant infrastructure work and was a very compact site hence its cost per place was higher then some of the other schemes.

Cllr E Wilson mentioned that Holyport College cost £10k per place yet schemes on the list were well over £20k per place and although in response to questions at this meeting it had been explained he felt that residents would question the increased costs.  He questioned if the was a limit to cost per place that we would say no to, why were we spending so much when there were places at other schools and what was the national average cost per place.  In response the Panel were informed that the national average would be added to the Cabinet report, that it had been explained why there were variances in costs and that we had to consider parental choice when looking at school expansion.  The expansion programme assumed that schools would be full by the time the programme of works was completed.   A further report in September would show the need for planned expansion in primary and secondary schools.

Cllr E Wilson mentioned that all the school being expanded were academies yet none of them were accessing school condition improvement funding.  The Panel were informed that when a school was required to expand because of growth and need then it was the LEA who was responsible for funding.  The Government would not fund expansion due to population growth.  Academies within the borough have submitted applications to the Education and Skills Funding Agency but none had been successful.

Cllr Jones mentioned that Members needed to drill down the proposals to see what the money was being spent on and if this was a requirement for expanding a school.

Cllr E Wilson mentioned that there were no proposals to use modular buildings to expand schools. The Panel was informed that modular building have been and would be used when appropriate.  The expansion programme was for building schools for the future and thus value for money long term options had been chosen. 

Cllr Bowden mentioned that modern modular buildings could last for 100 years and if they had solar panels added they would generate income.  Cllr Bowden also mentioned that it would have been useful to have had the whole project cost, not just building costs. 

Cllr E Wilson mentioned that with regards to Lowbrook the report mentioned that £1.8 million had been allocated for the expansion but after the Council decision there was only a £1.1 million underspend; what happened to the £700k.  Cllr N Airey informed that £150k had been spent on the land transfer with the remaining £550k being spent during phase 1 of the expansion programme.

Cllr E Wilson asked for confirmation that the £550k had been spent for an additional 30 places for last years intake and if they admissions problem in the area still existed.  The Panel were informed that the school had not said they would not continue to have an additional class, if they decided they could continue with a two form entry.  The school had been told to change their admissions policy and future reports would show there is no pressure in the Cox Green area.

Cllr E Wilson asked why the Council was spending £150k to purchase land it owned from Cox Green academy.   The Panel were informed that when a school became an academy land was transferred on a 125 year lease and thus the Council had to purchase a section of land from Cox Green as the school was the lease holder.  The piece of land transferred was land locked.

Cllr Jones mentioned that there had been a twitter message that £11 million was to be spent on a leisure centre at Charters School yet there had been no mention of this at scrutiny.  The Panel were informed that there had been no decision made and that if there was a report it would be brought to scrutiny. 

Resolved unanimously: that the Children’s Services O&S Panel considered the Cabinet report and fully endorsed the recommendations.  The Panel requested that the national average per pupil costs of building work be added to the report and also felt that more should be done to inform our residents about the Councils investment into school expansion.