Agenda item

An update on the Education Capital Programme 2022/23.

Portfolio Holders - Councillors Peter Butlin and Kam Kaur

Councillor Peter Butlin (Deputy Leader, Finance and Property) introduced this report which highlighted the latest changes and additions to the Education Capital Programme and detailed projects at Bishops Tachbrook CofE School (Warwick District), Briar Hill Infant School and St Margaret’s CofE Junior School (Warwick District), Oakley Grove all through school (South Leamington/Warwick), Griffin School (Rugby gateway), Stratford upon Avon High School, Shipston High School (Stratford-upon-Avon District) and Lighthorne Heath Primary School (Stratford-upon-Avon District).

Councillor Kam Kaur (Portfolio Holder for Education) informed Cabinet that work would be undertaken to understand the need for school places and ensure that they were in the right place going forward.

Councillor Judy Falp welcomed provision in the Bishops Tachbrook and Whitnash area which supported encouraging parents to choose schools in their local area rather than requiring car travel.

Councillor Margaret Bell welcomed the sufficiency work highlighted by Councillor Kaur, noting that the geographical spread of projects in the report did not reflect need across the whole of the county and she looked forward to further discussions.  Councillor Marian Humphreys echoed this comment and also looked forward to engaging on this piece of work.  Councillor Jonathan Chilvers queried the future funding position of the education capital fund and how projects may need to be prioritised in future.  In response to these comments, Councillor Kaur advised that the education capital programme existed to make sure the Council could meet its statutory duty to provide school places and the sufficiency work would consider the whole picture, recognising the growth that was taking place throughout Warwickshire, engaging with headteachers and providers, and considering how current facilites were being used.   

Councillor John Holland expressed concern regarding the additional funding required for Oakley Grove and considered that a review of the project should be undertaken.  Councillor Butlin responded that inflation was driving costs up and this would have an impact on delivery, together with new regulations in terms of sustainability, regardless of the site that the school was built upon and he did not consider a review was, therefore necessary and Councillor Holland may wish to take up his concerns with the district in terms of how they allocated the site through the planning process.

Resolved

That Cabinet recommends to Council to:

1.     Increase the Capital Programme allocation for Oakley Grove All through School by £6.000 million to £56.000 million to be funded from Department for Education Grant.

2.     Increase the Capital Programme allocation from Stratford-upon-Avon High School by £2.2 million to £13.773 to be funded from the Department for Education grant

3.     Add the scheme for refurbishment and remodelling of Shipston High School and the addition of a sports hall to the Capital Programme at a cost of £10.532 million funded by £10.023 million from the Department for Education grant and £0.509 million from developer contributions

That Cabinet

1.     Approves the addition to the capital programme of £2.361m funded from the Department for Education grant and developer contributions to deliver the remaining schemes outlined in Section 3 of the report.

2.     Authorises, subject to Council’s agreement to the required addition to the capital programme, the Strategic Director for People, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Property, to invite tenders and enter into the appropriate contracts on terms and conditions considered acceptable to the Strategic Director for Resources.