Agenda item

To seek full approval for capital schemes at primary schools for inclusion in the 2014/15 schools capital programme and for future schemes identified as priorities for inclusion in the programme including contributions to new schools required as a result housing developments.

Councillor Michael Evans in an ad hoc statement [a copy of which is attached to the Minutes as Appendix 12 and on the Council's website] asked Councillor Dine Romero to explain whether she was concerned about anticipated development outside of that envisaged in the Core Strategy.  He also observed that there had been an independent assessment of the Place Making process, and asked what this would cost local residents.

Councillor Dine Romero in proposing the item, promised to respond to the points raised by Councillor Evans after the meeting.  She explained the points of the programme in turn and asked the Cabinet to support the 6 capital investments, including the allocation of £500K for priority improvements which might arise without notice during the year.

Councillor David Bellotti seconded the proposal.  He welcomed the proposals for 3 main reasons:  the £500K extra for school repairs; the £987 being held in reserve for emergencies (such as roof repairs) as they become known; and the funding from government to upgrade school kitchens to enable to provision of free hot meals to every infant child.

He responded to the question posed by Councillor Evans about the consultancy report by assuring Cabinet that consultants were only used by the Council when the skills and experience were not available from within the Council.  He further observed that the number of consultants had been declining and that it was monitored by means of a regular report from Strategic Directors of all the consultants they had used.

Councillor Paul Crossley supported the programme which he felt met the dual needs to upgrade buildings in a poor condition and to accommodate rising numbers.  He explained that the concern expressed by Councillor Evans about development outside the Core Strategy was not relevant because the programme was about existing school buildings; new schools were being planned to accommodate new communities but were not included in the current proposals.

Councillor Crossley felt that the provision of free hot meals to infants was a landmark policy change and he warmly welcomed it.

On a motion from Councillor Dine Romero, seconded by Councillor David Bellotti, it was

RESOLVED (unanimously)

(1) To APPROVE for inclusion in the 2014/15 Capital Programme DfE funding of £353,269 for works to school kitchens required to enable the provision of free school meals for all infant pupils from September 2014;

(2) To APPROVE for inclusion in the 2014/15 Capital Programme Basic Need development funding of £150,000 to enable feasibility studies and option appraisal for adding capacity at the schools identified in Section 5;

(3) To APPROVE for inclusion in the 2014/15 Capital Programme Basic Need funding of £400k for the provision of additional classrooms at Saltford Primary School required by September 2014;

(4) To APPROVE provisionally the principle of the allocation of Basic Need funding for  school places and land as required on the MOD sites at Ensleigh and Warminster Rd subject to a further report to Cabinet when the level of contribution is identified;

(5) To AGREE an additional allocation of £500,000 from 2014/15 Capital Maintenance funding for the 2014/15 Schools Capital Maintenance Programme; and

(6) To APPROVE the allocation of £500,000 from 2014/15 Capital Maintenance funding for improvement projects in schools with priorities to be agreed with the Cabinet Member and brought forward for full approval.