Part 1
(OPEN TO THE PUBLIC)
ITEM NO.
___________________________________________________________________
REPORT OF STRATEGIC DIRECTOR FOR CHILDREN’S SERVICES
___________________________________________________________________
TO THE LEAD MEMBER FOR CHILDREN’S SERVICES AND LEAD MEMBER FOR
CUSTOMER AND SUPPORT SERVICES
ON 9 May 2011
___________________________________________________________________
TITLE: CHILDRENS SERVICES CAPITAL PROGRAMME UPDATE 2011/12
___________________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDATION: That approval is given to:


Implement the proposed schemes at 4.1 and 8.1 of this report
Obtain tenders/agree target costs in accordance with the City Council’s
partnering framework, or procure via North West Construction Hub in
accordance with separate city council decisions regards alternative
procurement arrangements; within the total available funding for the schemes
identified at 4.1.7 of this report
£50,000 available from the 2010/11 programme be allocated to perform
surveys to update the Asset Management Plan (AMP) condition data as the
first year of a continuous programme as detailed at 1.10 of this report
___________________________________________________________________
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: In December 2010 the Department for Education (DfE)
provided details of Salford schools capital allocations for 2011-12 for capital
maintenance (previously NDS modernisation) and basic need. The purpose of this
report is to update members on the proposed use of this funding from that approved
by Council on 2 March 2011.Consideration has now been given to the priorities for
this capital investment which are detailed in this report.
___________________________________________________________________
BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS:
(Available for public inspection)
Lead member report on 3 October 2008
Budget report to Council on 2 March 2011
___________________________________________________________________
KEY DECISION:
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YES
1
___________________________________________________________________
KEY COUNCIL POLICIES:
___________________________________________________________________
EQUALITY IMPACT ASSESSMENT AND IMPLICATIONS - All works and services
provided under the capital programme will be undertaken in accordance with
relevant DDA legislation and guidance.
___________________________________________________________________
ASSESSMENT OF RISK: High
___________________________________________________________________
SOURCE OF FUNDING: Capital grant provided by the DfE through their capital
maintenance and basic need funds for 2011/12
___________________________________________________________________
LEGAL IMPLICATIONS : None
___________________________________________________________________
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS : Developed with Customer and Support Services and
information provided by Pat Manning - Education Capital Accountant
___________________________________________________________________
OTHER DIRECTORATES CONSULTED: None
___________________________________________________________________
CONTACT OFFICER: Sue Wilkinson
TEL. NO. 0161 778 0228
___________________________________________________________________
WARD(S) TO WHICH REPORT RELATE(S): All
___________________________________________________________________
DETAILS:
CAPITAL MAINTENANCE
1.
Background
1.1 In October 2008 Lead Member approved a 3 year programme of works for all
community and voluntary controlled primary schools, funded by 50% of the
New Deal for Schools (NDS) modernisation funding allocations for
2008/9,2009/10 and 2010/11,with the remaining 50% being allocated as a
contribution to the Primary Capital Programme (PCP) (as approved by Cabinet
on 27 May 2008).
1.2 The programme of works related to the backlog of maintenance identified from
the Asset Management Plan (AMP) and priority was given to those projects
which exceeded £1,000 per pupil. Any projects which fell below this figure
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were excluded from the prioritisation for NDS modernisation funds and
referred to individual schools to be funded from their Devolved Formula
Capital (DFC) allocations.
1.3 A total of 17 NDS projects were undertaken between 2008-2011 (see details
below). All 17 projects involved works to the 4 key areas of the school
building, which are roofs, walls windows and doors, electrical and mechanical
services. These areas were selected as they could present the highest health
and safety risk, potentially resulting in school closure:Barton Moss
Cadishead Primary
Charlestown
Lewis Street
Lower Kersal
Peel Hall
St Luke's CE
St Luke's CE
Summerville
Wardley CE
Wardley CE
Beech Street
Clarendon Road
Westwood Park
Alder Brook
Brentnall
Emergency Lighting
Roofing Repairs
Fire alarm, intruder alarm,
emergency lighting
Partial Re-roofing
Replacement Windows & Roof
repairs
Mechanical Works
Electrical Repairs
Roofing Repairs
Boiler Plant
Fire Alarm, Emergency Lighting
Structural Stabilisation
Roofing Repairs
Boiler Plant
Re-roofing
External Works
Roof repairs
34,853
422,311
22,973
19,148
127,677
4,205
14,340
95,631
91,189
54,702
34,687
128,609
94,239
292,704
22,183
10,000
1.4
The Tootal Drive and North Grecian Street schemes, which were included in
the original programme, were removed due to their closure. A further 4
schemes at Wharton, Peel Hall, St Pauls Neville Road and Grosvenor Road
were deferred as it was considered that they were less urgent and could be
undertaken beyond the 2008-2011 programme. All but one of these
schemes is included in the 2011/12 capital maintenance programme.
1.5
In addition to the 17 planned projects, works were undertaken at 8 schools
which were not originally included as part of the NDS programme. These
works were unforeseen identified urgent health and safety issues:Marlborough Road
emergency health and safety
works identified during schools
last Ofsted inspection
£269,273
St Georges CE
Clarendon Road
emergency electrical works
asbestos
removal
and
electrical works
electrical works
roofing works
electrical works
hall roof
internal and external structural
works
£25,805
£285,877
Lewis Street
St Johns CE
Lower Kersal
St Luke’s CE
St. Andrews Eccles
CE
1.6
£34,133
£237,885
£268,519
£34,129
£195,064
All except two of these schemes are now complete, and subject to receipt of
final accounts, there will be approx £50,000 of unallocated funding.
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1.7
The evidence of inaccurate AMP condition data is clear from the eight
unforeseen schemes identified at 1.5, five of which were large schemes.
1.8
AMP condition updates have not been undertaken on a planned basis since
1998. Rather updates have been executed on an ad-hoc basis to suit the
needs of e.g. BSF, or the Primary Capital Programme. However this has
resulted in the AMP data becoming increasingly out of date in some areas.
1.9
It is proposed to undertake a rolling programme of condition surveys to
address the age of the data, and to ensure that into the future the data is
kept up to date. The Government requirements for the content held within
the AMP, and methodology for collecting data, has changed and is far less
stringent than previous guidance. However, indications from the DfE are
that this position will change soon and we will need to be in a position to
respond to their request for information. It is therefore proposed that the
rolling programme of updates be undertaken for the 4 key areas,
commencing in May 2011.
1.10
It is proposed that the £50,000 unallocated funding is used to employ the
services of surveyors via Urban Vision to update AMP condition in 50 % of
all community and voluntary controlled primary schools between May and
September 2011.This programme of work will be agreed in detail at the
earliest opportunity.
1.11
Voluntary aided primary schools are responsible for updating their own AMP
condition data. We will be requesting this information to include in the
complete AMP data set for the whole primary school estate, in advance of
the known intentions of the DfE to request this updated information.
2.
Capital Maintenance Grant Allocation 2011 and beyond.
2.1
In December 2010 the DfE provided details of Salford school’s capital grant
allocations for 2011/12.
Salford has received £2,513,478 capital
maintenance funding (previously NDS modernisation) for all community and
voluntary controlled primary schools. This is higher than the average of the
previous 3 years allocation which was £2,001,368 per annum.
2.2
The government have indicated that capital allocations for each year to
2014/15 are expected to stay in line with the total amounts allocated for
2011/12, as stated in the DfE’s letter to all authorities dated 13th December
2010.
2.3
The capital maintenance grant is not time limited and can be carried forward
to future financial years.
3.
Devolved Formula Capital (DFC)
3.1
In previous years schools included in capital building programmes have
agreed to contribute their DFC towards their scheme.
3.2
Those schools included in this years capital maintenance programme will be
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asked to contribute approx 10% of their DFC towards their scheme.
However for some schools this may not be possible due to schools having
an insufficient DFC balance due to their DFC allocations being reduced
significantly for 2011/12, by 80%, compared to previous years. The 2010/11
DFC allocation was £2,839,913 compared with the 2011/12 allocation of
£548,936.
4.
Proposed use of Capital Maintenance Grant Allocation 2011/12
4.1
Details of previous commitments, proposals and detailed explanations and
rationale are provided for the allocation as follows:-
4.1.1
4.1.2
4.1.3
4.1.4
4.1.5
4.1.6
4.1.7
4.1.8
Capital Maintenance Grant
Committed schemes
Contribution to PCP(River
View primary school)
Extra contribution to River
View
Proposed Schemes
Schools Access SEN
Children’s Centre
Maintenance
Children’s Homes
Maintenance
Contribution to Classroom
Extensions at St Andrews
Boothstown Primary School
Capital Maintenance
Programme
Unallocated Balance
2,513,478
794,918
23,427
50,000
85,314
45,000
37,000
1,247,467
230,352
4.1.1
The contribution of £794,918 NDS modernisation funding (now capital
maintenance grant) for River View Primary School (PCP scheme) was
previously approved by Cabinet on 27th May 2008.
4.1.2
The extra contribution of £23,427 for River View Primary School is to
replace part of the DFC contributions from the two closing schools as their
DFC funding has been reduced.
4.1.3/ There is no other available funding for Schools Access and SEN Children’s
4.1.5 Homes Maintenance, therefore a contingency of £95,000 has been provided
from the capital maintenance grant for these items.
4.1.4
The capital maintenance grant allocation for 2011/12 includes funding for
the maintenance of Sure Start Children’s Centres as indicated in the DfE’s
letter to all authorities dated 13th December 2010, therefore £45,000 has
been allocated for this purpose as a contingency.
4.1.6
St. Andrew’s Boothstown have vacated their old school building due to its
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poor condition and health & safety issues. The school propose to create
two classrooms in the main school building to accommodate the pupils
displaced from the old school building and have requested a contribution of
£37,000 towards the £187,000 scheme. The school will fund the remaining
£150,000 from their revenue budget and DFC balance. This project will be
the subject of a separate Lead Member report.
4.1.7
The unallocated balance of £230,352 is a contingency amount for the
capital maintenance programme, given that we have experienced
unforeseen projects in previous years. The unallocated balance will be
used for reserve capital maintenance projects in the event that this remains
available.
5.
Programme of Capital Maintenance works 2011/12 Prioritisation
5.1
Details of the £1,247,467 capital maintenance programme, priority works
and estimated costs (provided by Urban Vision) for 2011/2012 are detailed
below. If the target costs for the schemes are less than is currently
estimated any surplus funding will then be allocated to the 2 reserve list
schemes which have been identified. The 2 reserve schemes are roofing
works at Wardley CE primary school at an estimated cost of £184,696 and
WWD at Wharton primary school at an estimated cost of £14,677.
Element
Roofs
School
Lower Kersal
Roofs
Peel Hall
Roofs
Roofs
Cadishead
Primary
Nursery
Building
Wharton
WWD
North Walkden
WWD
Marlborough
Road
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Cost
£126,031
£82,655
£155,000
£70,000
£65,385
£145,685
Justification
This roof has bee in poor condition for a
number of years. Minimum repairs only were
instructed and executed as part of 2008/11
NDS programme.
The roof remains poor
overall.
Minimum repairs were instructed in 2008 as it
was then proposed to close the school as part
of PCP rationalisation. Those repairs were
executed as part of the 2008/11 NDS
programme. The school still have an issue with
roof leaks so it is recommended to include this
in the 2011/12 programme.
Not identified on AMP as last roof survey was
1998, however dry rot has been discovered in
the roof timbers causing part of the school to
have to be closed for H&S reasons.
Not identified on AMP as last roof survey was
1998, however dry rot has been discovered in
the roof timbers causing part of the school to
have to be closed for H&S reasons.
City Council removed this from the NDS
programme in 2008 due to low cost. 2008/11
report indicated school to undertake work via
DFC. A later H&S visit indicated there were
H&S issues so the work was added back to the
NDS programme 2010/11. However, higher
priority electrical works displaced this. Some of
the work has been undertaken by the school.
City Council removed this from NDS
programme in 2008 due to low cost work via
DFC. An Urban Vision surveyor visited the
school during w/c 4th April 2011. The main front
elevation of the old Victorian school building is
6
WWD
Lower Kersal
£49,868
Electrical
St. Paul’s Peel
£84,250
Electrical
Moorfield
Grosvenor Rd.
£106,343
£287,500
Mechanical
St. Luke’s CE
Elements Total
Mechanical
the highest priority and is recommended to be
included in the 2011/12 programme. Much of
the reminder are poor with perhaps only a 1-2
year lifespan. It would be prudent to inspect
these annually.
City Council instructed only emergency repairs
to be executed as part of 2008/11 NDS
programme as the school was proposed to
have major refurb as part of PCP. This never
happened . Repairs/replacements have been
executed to the major problem areas in the
quad where full height screens were unsafe.
An Urban Vision surveyor visited this school
during w/c 4th April 2011.
One elevation
requires windows replacing, the remainder
have 2-3 year lifespan but it would be prudent
to inspect them annually. Works to address
improvements to the infilled external walkways,
whilst desirable and form the bulk of the
£318,022 identified in the AMP are not
considered essential or appropriated from the
2011/12 capital maintenance programme.
A review of all schools electrical installation
were undertaken by the Electrical Surveying
team, outside the AMP. This was undertaken
separately due to the way the AMP captures
and presents electrical work, which does not
always represent a good reflection of cost. A 3
year NDS programme of the main priorities was
produced in 2010 and was used to inform the
final year of the 2008/11 NDS programme. The
two schools represent the next outstanding
priorities from that review.
The two projects prioritised are the two most
important. These are both boiler replacement
schemes, involving conversion from oil to gas.
.
£74,750
£1,247,467
5.2
As in previous years the capital maintenance programme has been drawn
up using the 4 key areas as detailed previously at 1.3 of this report.
5.3
Condition data for the 4 key elements has not been updated for a number of
years. Whereas the Mechanical and Electrical elements were resurveyed in
2007 (now approaching 4 years ago) the roofs and external walls windows
and doors (WWD) were not updated then as this was not required for the
purposes of the Primary Capital Programme strategy. The WWD and roof
elements data date back, in some cases, as far as 1998.
5.4
Due to the age, and consequently limited reliability of the data, further
informal analysis site visits by surveyors have been undertaken to inform
the prioritisation process as follows:
Roofs and WWD

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Reports have been produced from the AMP identifying the priority 1
7




and 2 requirements
Other priorities that both Children’s Services and Urban Vision have
become aware of, though not captured on the AMP, have been
added
The 2008/11 final programme of priorities indicated that numerous
items would be undertaken from schools DFC rather than via NDS
funds. Urban Vision surveyors have visited those premises to check
the current requirements
The 2008/11 NDS programme indicated that some items would be
excluded due to proposed school closures/major refurbishment
included within the Primary Capital Programme strategy. Urban
Vision surveyors have visited those premises to check the current
requirements
All the above has been brought together and rationalised to produce
the 2011/12 prioritised programme of works detailed at 5.1 of this
report
Electrical

Although updated in 2007 the electrical element data is now 4 years
old. A separate analysis of electrical needs was undertaken to inform
the final year of the 2008/11 NDS programme, resulting in the top two
priorities – Clarendon and Lower Kersal Primary Schools rewires –
being undertaken. This analysis has been reviewed and the next two
priorities have been recommended for inclusion in the 2011/12
prioritised programme of works detailed at 5.1 of this report.
Mechanical



5..5
The identified priorities in 2008/11 could not all be funded from that
programme.
Reports have been produced from the asset management plan (amp)
identifying the priority 1 and 2 requirements
The two schools having the greatest need – Grosvenor Road and St
Luke’s CE primary schools – both of which require new boilers and
conversion from oil to gas, have been recommended for inclusion in
the 2011/12 prioritised programme of works detailed at 5.1 of this
report.
This process of identification is not the most satisfactory and will be
reviewed for the 2012/13 capital programme onwards using the more
reliable data obtained from the surveying work to be undertaken between
May 2011 and September 2011 as detailed previously at 1.9 of this report.
BASIC NEED
6.
Background
6.1
For the period 2008/11, Salford’s allocation for Basic Need was £678k per
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annum, which was allocated to support the Primary Capital Programme, as
approved by Cabinet in May 2008.
7.
Basic Need Grant Allocation 2011 and Beyond
7.1
Basic need funding is for the provision of new pupil places. There are
significant pressures for additional school places particularly at primary age,
in many areas of the country because of the rising birth rates and changed
migration patterns.
7.2
Salford have identified such pressure on reception class places for
September 2011,with increasing pressure across all primary year groups in
future years .Recently the DfE undertook a survey on basic need within
each Authority, to identify the extent of issues local authorities are facing
regarding shortage of primary pupil places. Salford’s return to the DfE
identified that we require an estimated £15 million to provide an adequate
number of primary pupil places by September 2015.
7.3
In acknowledgement of the pressure on school places, in the December
2010 announcement, Salford’s allocation for 2011/12 has increased
significantly to £3.2m.
7.4
The Basic Need allocation has to be used for all categories of taxpayer
funded schools including Voluntary Aided as well as community and
controlled schools. The Local Authority have the responsibility for ensuring
sufficient school places in Salford and when planning for growth in pupil
numbers we have to consider all sector in prioritising this funding. As with
the Capital Maintenance Grant, the government have indicated that future
capital allocations until 2014/15 are expected to stay in line with the total
amounts allocated in 2011/12, subject to the outcome of the capital review.
7.5
The Basic Need grant is not time limited and can be carried forward to
future financial years.
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8.
Proposed use of Allocation 2011/12
8.1
Details of previous commitments, proposals and detailed explanations and
rationale are provided for the allocation as follows:
8.1.4
Basic Need Allocation
Committed schemes
River View School (PCP)
Extra Contribution to River View
New Eccles Primary School
Proposed Schemes
Lark Hill CP Phase 2 Works
8.1.5
Unallocated balance
8.1.1
The contribution of £678,030 basic need funding for River View Primary
School (PCP Scheme) was previously approved by Cabinet on 27 th May
2008.
8.1.2
The extra contribution of £23,427 for River View Primary is to replace part of
the DFC contribution from the closing schools as their DFC funding has
been reduced.
8.1.3
The £308,164 allocated to the new Eccles Primary School (PCP Scheme) is
to replace the extended schools grant of £191,058 Schools Access funding
of £117,106, both of which have been cut.
8.1.4
The £441,025 for Lark Hill phase 2 works were approved by Lead Member
for Children’s Services on 7th April 2011 and Lead Member for Customer
Support Services on 14th April 2011.
8.1.5
Some of the unallocated balance of £1,750.008 will be used to facilitate the
prioritisation of an additional 345 reception class places required across the
primary school estate for September 2011. We have approached those
primary schools with surplus capacity to accommodate the additional
reception class pupils with little or no capital investment. However, it is
likely that one temporary classroom will be requested to augment the
existing accommodation across the primary school estate at an approx cost
of £40,000 in 2010/11 and then £10,000 per annum hire costs thereafter.
8.1.6
The holding position for September 2011 will provide us with time to
undertake a strategic review of pupil places . This will enable us to utilise
the unallocated Basic Need funding more strategically for the required
provision of pupil places from September 2012 onwards.
8.1.1
8.1.2
8.1.3
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3,200,654
678,030
23,427
308,164
441,025
1,750,008
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9.
Recommendations



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Implement the proposed schemes at 4.1 and 8.1 of this report
Obtain tenders/agree target costs in accordance with the City
Council’s partnering framework, or procure via North West
Construction Hub in accordance with separate city council decisions
regards alternative procurement arrangements; within the total
available funding for the schemes identified at 4.1.7 of this report
£50,000 available from the 2010/11 programme be allocated to
perform surveys to update the Asset Management Plan (AMP)
condition data as the first year of a continuous programme as
detailed at 1.10 of this report
11