ITEM CMDSI2 DETAILED PROJECT APPRAISAL APPRAISAL NO. ED 646 NAME OF SCHEME: Modernisation and extensions including accommodation for the Autism Service PORTFOLIO HOLDER: START
YEAR: BASIS OF ESTIMATE: 1. INTRODUCTION AND DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT The accommodation at St Andrews CE School, Chinnor, is located within two detached timber framed and clad buildings; Manser (Constructed 1966) and Benton (Constructed 1968). When originally built these buildings provided separate infant and junior accommodation. Also on site are 2 prefabricated ‘temporary’ buildings providing accommodation for the Service for Autism. The larger of these buildings is in particularly poor condition. The school site and buildings are part owned by the School Trustees. In recent years the school has experienced a falling pupil roll which has resulted in a number of surplus places. In order to maximise the use of the buildings some rooms have been taken out of use as general teaching classrooms and instead are used as additional resource/support areas. The buildings also have significant repair & maintenance and suitability problems. In order to address the surplus places, poor condition and suitability issues it is proposed that the Trustees dispose of part of the site, including the Benton building, for residential development. The capital receipt generated from this disposal will be reinvested by the Trustees in the remaining site. This will allow the remaining Manser building to be upgraded and extended to provide permanent accommodation for the projected number of pupils. Part of the Manser building will also be refurbished to provide accommodation for the Autism Service. In summary the project will provide: · Improved staffroom and office facilities for Headteacher and administrative staff · New ICT room · New library · 5 new general teaching classrooms · 1 new Foundation Stage classroom · Conversion of 2 existing ‘open plan’ classrooms to provide accommodation for the Autism Service · Reinstatement of production kitchen (main kitchen currently located in Benton building) · Provision of central resource area The classrooms converted for use by the Autism Service will include: · Resource/teaching area · Kitchen · Quiet room · Planning, Preparation and Assessment room · Therapy room · Storage, WC’s etc On
completion of the project the school will have a total of 9 general teaching
KS1/KS2 classrooms and 1 Foundation Stage classroom, a reduction of 3
classroom spaces. Both of the prefabricated buildings used by the Autism
Service would be removed. 2. JUSTIFICATION AND ASSESSMENT OF NEED The forecast pupil numbers for the school indicate that between 2006 and 2013 the number of surplus places each year will remain unchanged. The need to address surplus places combined with the age and condition of the buildings and the ‘split site’ arrangement has prompted a review of the long-term accommodation needs of the school and the Service for Autism. The Children, Young People & Families (CYP&F) Asset Management Plan (AMP) Suitability Survey (2006) identified a number of significant suitability problems which will be dealt with as part of this project: Benton building (part of disposal site) · General teaching classrooms too small due to the internal shape and organisation of the rooms which include circulation routes · Inadequate storage provision Manser building (to be addressed through modernisation) · Staffroom too small for staff numbers · 2 general teaching rooms separated by folding wall – noise disturbance (these rooms will be converted to provide accommodation for the Service for Autism) Service for Autism Accommodation (Prefabricated buildings – to be removed at end of project) · Temperature extremes in summer and winter, disruption caused by floor vibration The current Assessed Repair and Maintenance Needs for the 2 buildings are; Non–delegated Delegated £ £ Benton building 270,500 32,700 Prefabricated Buildings 1,000 13,800 Total 271,500 46,500 The disposal of Benton building and the removal of the prefabricated buildings will therefore remove assessed needs items totalling £318,000. Planning Permission for the extensions on the school site was granted by the County Council 15 January 2007 (ref S.18/06). Residential development of the area identified for disposal is in accordance with local planning policy. The planning application for residential development will be considered by South Oxfordshire District Council 12 June 2007. An assessment of the remaining site area following the disposal of Benton building and surrounding area confirms that sufficient site area would remain to accommodate pupil numbers in excess of those currently forecast. The project has the full support of the Headteacher and governing body as well as the Head and staff of the Communication, Language, Autism & Sensory Service (CLASS) and meets the objectives of the County Council’s Corporate Plan. 3. OTHER OPTIONS The only other option is to continue with the existing accommodation. This would mean that the school would continue to operate in 2 buildings with high repair & maintenance requirements and surplus places. The capital receipt that could be generated from the disposal of part of the site and reinvested in the school accommodation would not be realised. 4. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS The project will be funded by joining up a number of funding streams; Capital receipt, prudential borrowing and Devolved Formula Capital. As the site to be disposed of and the remaining site were provided by the LEA, and then statutorily transferred to the Trustees, it is anticipated that up to 80% of the proceeds of the disposal should be determined back for reinvestment on the school site. This will be subject to an agreement by the Trustees. Prudential borrowing has already been identified for the school to address a number of the repair & maintenance (R&M) items. This funding is being made available to help fund this project in order to remove a large amount of poor condition accommodation and thereby eliminate the identified R&M needs. The school governors have agreed to contribute a significant amount of Devolved Formula Capital funding in recognition of the condition and suitability issues that the project will address. (i) Capital The estimated cost of the scheme, inclusive of Mouchel Parkman professional fees and costs associated with the disposal of land, is £1,945,000. The resources identified to undertake the project are as follows; £ Capital Receipt* 1,420,000 Prudential Borrowing 450,000 School Contribution (DFC)u 75,000 Total 1,945,000 *Available funding after approx 20% reduction for recoupment scheme (ii) Revenue The rationalisation of the accommodation and removal of prefabricated buildings will reduce the ongoing running costs and repair & maintenance liabilities. Day to day revenue costs will be met through the schools delegated budget. (iii) Risk Regular risk assessments have been carried out by Property Services/Mouchel Parkman and a Risk Register is maintained toi manage, reduce and remove identified risks. 5. STAFFING IMPLICATIONS There are none arising from this report. 6. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS The design of the project will take into account the nature of the site and surrounding buildings. Full planning has been secured and the construction will be in accordance with Oxfordshire County Council requirements. The design intends to provide natural ventilation and solar shading without depriving the internal areas of natural lighting, as per “Guidelines for Environmental Design in Schools - Building Bulletin 87”. The extensions to the existing Manser building achieved “Good” rating in the Building Research Establishment’s Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) Pre-Assessment estimation, which allows a quick evaluation of the likely environmental rating a building would achieve under a formal BREEAM Schools assessment. The sustainability principles applied
to the design incorporate the values of comfort, good internal environment
(heating, lighting, ventilation) and adequacy to the Science and Design
Technology education. The extensions take into account the current services
and building features and in so doing make efficient use of the available
resources. JIM
CROOK SUE SCANE NEIL
MONAGHAN Background Papers: Nil Contact: Kevin Griffin, Service Manager (Capital Planning), Property & Assets, Strategy & Performance, Children, Young People & Families Directorate Tel: (01865) 816457 April
2007
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