Agenda item

To consider a report by the Head of Head of Customers and Education Support (copy enclosed) which reviewed progress with implementing the Programme.

9.30 a.m. – 10.05 a.m.

A report by the Head of Head of Customers and Education Support (HCES), which reviewed progress with implementing the Programme, had been circulated with the papers for the meeting.  The Appendix to the report was the draft financial programme for the wider Modernising Education Programme.  This illustrated the Council’s 21^st Century Schools Programme together with options for wider investment.

The Lead Member for Education (LME) explained that the Council was progressing an ambitious programme for investment in the school estate, and that the proposal would support the Corporate Priority of “improving performance in education and the quality of our school buildings”.

The LME and the HCES detailed the background to the Programme and to each school project listed.  They emphasised that whilst Welsh Government (WG) had changed the funding ratio from 70% WG and 30% Local Authority to 50:50 for the 21st Century Schools Programme, Denbighshire had been able to fund the additional apportionment through astute financial management and by managing expectations for each individual project. 

Members were advised that proposals regarding the establishment of a new joint faith secondary school in the County were likely to be presented to Cabinet in the autumn.  Whilst the problem of surplus school places in the south of the County was being address through a number of area reviews, current projections indicated that there would be a shortage of primary school places in the Rhyl area in the future.  Consequently a meeting had been arranged between the LME, officers and primary headteachers in the Rhyl area to discuss possible solutions. 

Dr. Marjoram asked that Ysgol Plas Brondyffryn was not left out of any future proposals under the Programme, as Ysgol Tir Morfa would benefit greatly by being part of the new Rhyl High School Redevelopment Project. 

In response to Members' questions with regard to potential risks to the projects from e.g a further reduction in WG funding or planning permission set-backs, the LME and the HCES emphasised that there were risks with each project and that all risks had to be appropriately managed. 

Questions were also asked regarding the risk to the Programme if the WG Minister for Education and Skills overturned the Cabinet's decision to close Ysgol Llanbedr Dyffryn Clwyd, the timetable for the proposed new primary school for Ruthin and the current position with respect to the federation of Ysgol Llanfair Dyffryn Clwyd and Ysgol Pentrecelyn and their language categorisation. Responses were provided to these questions informing Members that it was anticipated that a new school would be built in Ruthin within the next five years, the federation of Llanfair D C and Pentrecelyn had now been agreed in principle and the decision on the new school's language categorisation would be taken on the basis of the expected outcomes for the pupils i.e. that they would be fully bilingual by the time they were 11 years of age.  The language categorisation would form part of the Business Case for the school.  It was explained that the pending Ministerial decision with respect to Llanbedr D C did not pose a significant risk, as the Authority would only realise revenue savings from the school's closure as the Council did not own the asset itself. 

To deliver the entire 21st Century Schools Programme, as detailed in the report, the Council would need to contribute funding of £24,414,684.  The total Programme cost being the £51,283,196 with the remainder of the cost being dependent on WG 21st Century Schools funding.  Cabinet at its meeting on the 29^th July would be asked to approve the Council's financial commitment to deliver the Programme.

Members were informed that there were a number of risks currently being managed at a programme level by the Modernising Education Programme Board, and all individual projects would include risk management procedures.

RESOLVED – that based on the information provided, and subject to the detail that would be contained in the report to Cabinet on 29th July 2014, the Committee support the ambitious vision for modernising education facilities across the County.