Meeting documents

Delegated Decisions by Cabinet Member for Schools Improvement
Tuesday, 6 March 2007

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Delegated Decisions by Cabinet Member for Schools Improvement – 6 March 2007

Statement of Decision

Education Project Appraisal - St Birinus School, Didcot – Provision of New Science Block

Present:

Cabinet Member for Schools Improvement  : Councillor Michael Waine

Officers:

Deborah Miller (Corporate Core)

Kevin Griffin (Children, Young People & Families)

Also in attendance: 

Other Members:

Councillor Terry Joslin (as local member)

Documentation considered:

Report

Education Project Appraisal - St Birinus School, Didcot Provision of New Science Block

A copy is attached to the signed copy of this decision.

Summary of representations in person

Councillor Joslin expressed concern over overcrowding in schools and large teaching classes being disruptive.  He urged the Cabinet Member for Schools Improvement to fix the school admission number at 1,400 and not to allow further future expansion of the school.

Cabinet Member’s Comments

The future of St Birinus School will be part of the consultation of future provision of secondary schools in Didcot where a range of options will be available.  This project appraisal constitutes a significant upgrade to the buildings at the school – taking out current poor accommodation and does not compromise the consultation.

The project provides a new 3 storey science faculty.  The new building is a high tech glass and steel construction meeting BREAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) ‘very good’ status.  On completion the existing science rooms will be converted to general teaching rooms, allowing for review of temporary classrooms on site.

The new building will have a ground source heating system and part of the capital cost for this is being met by the school to reflect ongoing savings to their energy budget.  The total cost of the project is £4.78m and is being met from within the County Council’s Capital Programme.

Decision

Having regard to the arguments and options set out in the documentation before me, the representations made to me and the further considerations set out above, I confirm my decisions on this matter as follows:

to approve detailed project appraisal ED657.

Signed ..........................................................................

            Cabinet Member for Schools Improvement

Date ………………………2007

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