To approve the proposed expenditure of capital grants for school building and maintenance work allocated to the council for the year 2015/16

Approval was being sought for allocation of grant funding to ensure it best meets priorities to allow schools to continue running safely. Allocations are included to accommodate special needs and disability.

The cabinet member, economy and corporate services asked about possible backlogs in maintenance and how funding was prioritised for schools that were unable to prioritise from their own reserves. Further detail would be provided for scrutiny in terms of how to keep up to date with maintenance. In terms of schools’ contributions to schemes, this would be on the basis of their making best use of their resources alongside the council. The schools forum budget working group was considering how the scheme could be embedded; the investment strategy also looks at accessing support and funding from a number of funding sources.  

In answer to a question from the chair of the general overview and scrutiny committee regarding conditions surveys and concern about keeping up to date with building regulations, it was confirmed that the current arrangement for condition surveys was on a five-year rolling programme. Work under the capital investment strategy was designed to address this in relation to all schools in Herefordshire including academy and free schools to ensure all children received good quality education.  The budget working group was looking at prioritising funding with governors working closely with the council. Consideration was being given to strengthening the education structure over the next few years and discussions with the education funding agency had been positive.

In answer to a question from the leader of Herefordshire Independents regarding Section 106 money it was confirmed that it was allocated to capital and further information could be provided on this.

Assurance was given to the cabinet member for contracts and assets that specific references to fire safety precautions were there as routine items in the condition survey rather than to identify particular issues.

RESOLVED

THAT:

a)         that £1.9m of school building improvements and maintenance works, be approved; and

b)         adjustments to the programme of works and budget allocation based on detailed quotations be delegated to the head of education development.