Agenda item

As detailed in the recommendations.

Councillor Bithell introduced the report on School Modernisation – 21^st Century Schools Programme – Band A Capital Projects – Connah’s Quay High School.

            The Council had an agreed funding package with Welsh Government (WG) for its 21^st Century Schools Band A programme of £64.2m.  This was funded on a 50/50 contribution rate between WG and the Council.

            The Strategic Outline Programme (SOP) submitted by the Council to WG in 2010 included proposed projects at Holywell Learning Campus, the Post 16 Deeside 6^th Hub project at Coleg Cambria, the Queensferry / John Summers Campus and also subject to available finance a proposed refurbishment project at Connah’s Quay High School. 

            The construction projects at both Holywell Learning Campus and Deeside 6^th had been delivered on time and within budget which left a balance of £18.564m to progress other projects agreed through the WG business case process.  The revised SOP presented to WG included the reaffirmation of a capital scheme at Connah’s Quay High School which was included in the Council’s 2010 submission.  The revised SOP had been approved in principal by WG.

            The proposed scheme at Connah’s Quay High School, Phase 1, would replace the existing Design and Technology (D&T) block and the Art and Food Technology block.  The new 21^st Century School project would see the demolition of the existing three storey block and the provision of a temporary entrance and administration area, together with the construction of a new two storey block, comprising of Administration, D&T, Food Technology, Art and Design, additional teaching provision, office space, toilets, accessible provision, lift, stairs and plant room.

            The balance of the funding envelope would be used on two projects:

1.    Amalgamation of Penyffordd Primary School split-site provision onto a single site with the village (subject to a separate report on the Cabinet agenda)

2.    Queensferry Campus – namely potential demolition or making secure / safe John Summers High School and improvement works to support the modernisation of inclusion provision in the area.

Proposals to make further improvement to Queensferry CP School would be considered in the following band of the 21^st Century Schools programme.

The Chief Officer (Education and Youth) said the Overview and Scrutiny Committee the previous week had been held at the new Holywell Learning Campus and it was clear that the learners and staff were overwhelmed with the learning environment which they were benefitting from.  It made a different to all involved, including the wider community who would benefit from the facilities on offer.  This was a similar exciting opportunity for Connah’s Quay High School and the generation ahead.  This would see the single largest investment in any school for refurbishment.

In response to a question from Councillor Shotton, the Chief Officer explained that subject to approval by Cabinet, design and building work would commence in summer 2017.

Councillor Attridge welcomed the report and said he hoped the refurbishment works would include all of the identified areas for improvement over recent years.

RESOLVED:                                                                            

(a)       That the operational changes to the 21^st Century Schools programme be considered; and

(b)       That the continuation of the school capital project at Connah’s Quay High School be approved to design development, tender and Full Business Case submission to the Welsh Government, in line with programme criteria.

Councillor Christine Jones left the room during the discussion.