ITEM CMDSI4 REVISED DETAILED
PROJECT APPRAISAL NAME OF SCHEME: The Warriner School, Bloxham – New Assembly Hall and Sports Hall Changing Rooms COMMITTEE(S): Cabinet Member for Schools Improvement START YEAR: 2006/2007 BASIS OF ESTIMATE: Costs based on building contracts placed. 1. INTRODUCTION The Cabinet approved a Detailed Project Approval ED628 on 2 November 2005 for the provision of a new assembly hall and sports hall changing rooms at The Warriner School, Bloxham. The building contract has been let and the works are currently in the course of construction. This report seeks approval for the incorporation of a car-parking scheme that will be incorporated in the project works and funded by future school contributions. Following a request from the school to access future devolved capital funding for the car parking scheme, the Capital Steering Group agreed at its meeting on 24 November 2006 that, subject to written confirmation from the school of their phased contribution and necessary permissions being obtained, the car parking scheme will be added to the capital programme scheme. Planning permission for the scheme has been submitted and will be considered by the Planning and Regulation Committee on 26 March 2007. The incorporation of these additional works will increase the total project costs by more than 10% above the original project approval figure. This report also clarifies the revised funding arrangements including developer contributions that have recently been secured in respect of the provision of additional pupil places at the school. The revised scheme incorporating visitor and staff car
parking facilities has the full support of school staff and the governing
body and meets the objectives of the County Council’s Corporate Plan. 2. DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT The proposed works to provide an assembly hall with a visitor reception and shower and changing facilities to the sports hall remain unchanged from the Detailed Project Appraisal report. It is now proposed to add a car-parking scheme to the project works. These additional works will upgrade the existing rough stone surfaced area that has been used as an informal parking area for a number of years. The scheme will provide a tarmacadam or other hard surface for 41 car parking spaces including 3 parking spaces for disabled people, together with lockable barriers, drainage, signage and landscaping. The scheme has been promoted by the school and will be funded in equal instalments from the school’s devolved capital allocation brought forward from 2007/08, 2008/09 and 2009/10. 3. JUSTIFICATION AND ASSESSMENT OF NEED The justification and assessment of need remain unchanged from the original Detailed Project Approval and, together with the addition of improvements to the car parking provision, combine to address suitability issues at the school. The County Council’s Asset Management Plan identified as a high priority suitability issue the school’s lack of an assembly hall. The addition of dedicated shower and changing facilities to the sports hall will enhance the delivery of physical education and sporting facilities for both the school and the community. The provision and improvement of car parking facilities will provide better accessibility for all users of the school’s facilities and will help to reduce traffic issues associated with inadequate car parking facilities at the school. 4. OTHER OPTIONS The only other option is to do nothing and leave the school with informal parking facilities that are unsuitable especially for disabled staff and visitors. 5. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS (i) Capital The estimated total cost of the project incorporating car parking is £2,011,000 inclusive of fees. The revised estimated cost inclusive of fees based upon contract letting of the assembly hall (£1,091,000) and the sports hall changing rooms (£770,000) is £1,861,000. This is an increase of £108,000 from the costs reported in the Detailed Project Approval. This will be met from NDS Modernisation funding (£1,105,000), schools Devolved Formula Capital grant (£100,500), NOF Lottery Fund grant (£275,088), developer contributions secured under S106 agreements and identified for this school (£104,000) and the balance (£277,000) from government loan sanction provided as part of Oxfordshire’s Supported Capital Expenditure allocation. The estimated cost of the additional car-parking scheme is £150,000 inclusive of fees. This will be met by schools Devolved Formula Capital Grant provided in equal instalments from future allocations in 2007/08, 2008/09 and 2009/10. This makes a total of £250,500 on the overall project to be met from Devolved Formula Capital Grant. Currently, the grant allocations have only been announced up to 2007/08 (the school allocation is £126,000) and while it is expected that the grant will continue in future years, any anticipation of funding beyond what has been announced is at the risk of the school and should the grant cease then the amount outstanding will have to be met by the school from other funds. Written confirmation by the school of this funding arrangement and the acceptance of carrying the financial risk of the scheme will be required before the work is added to the capital programme scheme. (ii) Revenue The school will meet day-to-day repair and maintenance costs and structural repairs as part of the Council’s Fair Funding arrangements. (iii) Risk Regular risk assessments have been carried out and a Risk Register is maintained to manage, reduce and remove identified risks. 6. STAFF IMPLICATIONS There are no staff implications arising from this report. 7. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS The building work will be carried out in accordance
with the planning permission issued by the County Council. The design,
materials and landscaping will be as specified in the planning consent.
KEITH BARTLEY SUE SCANE NEIL MONAGHAN Background Papers: Nil Contact Officer: John Phipps, Service Manager, Property & Assets, Strategy & Performance, Children, Young People & Families Tel: (01865) 816455 March 2007
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