Agenda item

    Report by Corporate Director Terence Herbert.

Cllr Laura Mayes presented the report which asked Cabinet to agree the Schools Capital Programme for 2019-2024.

In presenting the report Cllr Mayes explained that (i) the Council has a statutory duty to provide sufficient school places to meet the demand arising across Wiltshire; (ii) the current programme of work is based on the basic need priorities for capital investment in the short, medium and longer term; (iii) the Council has landlord responsibilities for the effective management and ongoing maintenance of the schools’ estate (community, voluntary controlled

and Foundation schools only); and (iv) the Council receives annual capital funding allocations from the Department for Education to meet basic need (new places) and condition (capital maintenance works) only.

In response to questions from Cllr Thorn about the level of S106 contributions from developers, the challenges posed by boundary reviews, and timescales and deliverability of the provision of new housing, the Acting Head of School Place Commissioning explained how the Council receives annual capital funding allocations from the Department of Education to meet new places and capital maintenance. The Government funding is supplemented by S106 developer contributions that the Council secures for essential school infrastructure in areas of new housing development. It was noted that capital projects progressed once S106 funding is received, and that new school builds linked to housing development are not started until planning approval has been given for the development and the housing developers have commenced on site. The Corporate Director, Children’s Services confirmed that the numbers of new homes currently being delivered was meeting the expectations detailed in the housing local land supply for the next five years.  Cllr Mayes referred to Appendix A to the report and the number of approved capital schemes that have been completed successfully for both primary and secondary schools.

In response to a question from Cllr Jackson about the provision of a new secondary school located in west Warminster, to cater for new housing developments in the area and complimenting the provision of places provided by Kingdown School in the town, the Acting Head of School Place Commissioning confirmed that discussions were ongoing to secure a site for the expansion of Kingdown School as part of the West Warminster Urban Expansion, although there were concerns about the viability of having a satellite site so far from the existing school.  The Leader suggested that local members meet with officers to discuss the matter further.

Cllr Hill reminded members that the provision of new schools also included a requirement for additional teachers and improvements to the infrastructure.  The Leader encouraged members to consider these issues when planning applications are received for new schools, and ensure that appropriate infrastructure developments are in place prior to a new school opening. Cllr Wickham referred on the Council’s Obesity Strategy and how this should be considered when building new schools.

Resolved:

1.    To note the progress on previously approved schemes at Appendix A to the report.

2.    To approve the new schemes, subject to planning approval and completed S106 agreements, requiring a total commitment of £14.7m as outlined at Appendix B to the report.

3.    To approve the Schools Planned Maintenance Programme totalling £2.5m for 2019/20 as outlined at Appendix C of the report.

4.    To authorise the Corporate Director for Children Services to invite and evaluate tenders for the projects described in the report, and, following consultation with the Cabinet member, to award the contract for the project (subject to approval of any necessary statutory proposals) and to authorise, in consultation with the Head of Strategic Assets and FM (or the Asset Portfolio Manager (Estates), in accordance with the relevant scheme of sub-delegation (under paragraph 7 of Part 3B of Wiltshire Council’s constitution)), the acquisition of all land (and the completion of any legal documentation) reasonably required in order to facilitate the Schools Capital Investment Programme.

Reason for Decision:

The Council has a statutory duty to provide sufficient school places

to meet the demand arising across Wiltshire, whether from demographic or

population change, strategic housing development growth or the Army

Re-Basing programme. The approved Wiltshire School Places Strategy 2017-

2022 and its Implementation Plan identifies the priority basic need schemes

requiring capital investment in the short, medium and longer term and these

latest proposals for inclusions in the Schools Capital Programme will enable the

priority works to be progressed. The Council also has Landlord responsibilities

for the effective management and maintenance of the schools (for which the

Council is responsible) estate and the approved programme will enable urgent

and priority repairs and maintenance projects to proceed.