Issue details

19/00028 - Expansion of Palmarsh Primary School - WITHDRAWN

Background Information:

 

In January 2017 permission was agreed to release £2,200,000 from the Education and Young People’s Services Capital budget to enable Palmarsh Primary School to expand to 1FE. It was understood that this would be the first phase of a gradual expansion to 2FE.

 

The first phase of the expansion would provide 3 new classrooms, a new entrance off Jubilee Close, offices and car parking with further classrooms being added in later phases.

 

Planning permission for the first phase of the expansion has been achieved. However, in order to secure the said planning permission significant adaptations needed to be made increasing the capital costs to £2,600,000.

 

Options:

 

Consideration has been given as to how we can scale back the first phase of the expansion plans, ensuring there is: is sufficient high quality classroom space for the school to expand to 1FE; provision of a new entrance off Jubilee Close; increased car parking and the completion of agreed s278 works.

 

Sufficient classroom space could be achieved via the removal of an old mobile classroom and replacing this with a new two classroom mobile unit. The new offices and permanent classrooms could be delivered in a later phases as an when there is a need for second FE of provision. The total costs for the mobile classrooms, new entrance off Jubilee Close, car parking and s278 works would be in the region of £700,000.

 

A variation to the present planning permission will be required if this was to proceed.

 

Proposed decision:

 

The Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education is asked to release £625,000 of the £2,200,000 already agreed from the Children, Young People and Education Capital budget to expand Palmarsh Primary School to 1FE.

Decision type: Non-key

Decision status: Withdrawn

Division affected: Hythe West;

Notice of proposed decision first published: 19/03/2019

Decision due: Not before 16th Apr 2019 by Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education
Reason: In order that the proposed decision can be published for a minimum of 28 days, in accordance with statutory requirements

Lead member: Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education

Lead director: Keith Abbott

Department: Education & Young People's Services

Contact: David Adams, Assistant Director Education (South Kent) Tel: 03000 414989 Email: david.adams@kent.gov.uk Tel: 01233 898559.

Consultees

This matter will be considered by the Infrastructure Commissioning Board on 30 April 2019 or 24 May 2019.

 

A consultation on expanding to 1FE was undertaken in 2016, as there is no change to this decision further consultation is not required.

 

The report will be submitted to the Children’s, Young People and Education Cabinet Committee meeting on 28 March 2019.

 

The view of the local member will be sought prior to the Cabinet Committee meeting.

 

Financial implications: £1,200,000 has been secured in developer contributions of which £887,000 has been paid so far. The estimated costs for the mobile classrooms, new entrance, carparking and s278 works would be in the region of £700,000. The School will put the £75,000 towards this from their capital funding with the rest coming from the Children, Young People and Education Capital budget. The School will receive increased funding through the Delegated Budget. The rising roles will be protected in line with KCC Growth Funding Policy. Revenue funding will also be allocated to enable the School to resource one of the classrooms. At present that is at a value of £6,000.

Legal implications: N/A.

Equalities implications: The Equality Impact Assessment is in place. The variation in plans will not impact on the judgements in the EqIA.