Issue - meetings

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Children and Enterprise which provided a summary of the capital programmes for 2014/15 for the Children and Enterprise Directorate.

The Board was advised that the schools capital grant allocations for 2014/15 were announced by the Department for Education (DfE) in December 2013. Details of how the Capital Maintenance and Capital Expenditure Revenue Account funding would be allocated were set out in the report.

It was noted that Halton had recently used Basic Need Capital Funding to carry out building works to provide additional school places at Lunts Health, St Bedes Infants and Juniors, Windmill Hill and Weston Primary schools. Later in the year, works to provide post 16 facilities at Ashley School and increase capacity at Beechwood Primary would commence.

The report set out details of the proposed arrangements for the re-build of the Halebank Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School in 2016/17. It was noted that this school had been included in the DfE’s Priority School Building Programme. However, the pre-school on site, which operated from a mobile classroom, was not included in the new school building programme.  The provision of free early years entitlement to 2, 3 and 4 year olds was a statutory duty on Local Authorities, and the Board was advised that, in order for the free entitlement for two year olds to be delivered, it would be necessary to carry out some repairs and upgrade works to the pre-school mobile, at an estimated cost of £25,000.

Universal Infant Free School Meals Capital had been provided to ensure school kitchen and dining rooms were able to provide a free school lunch to every child in Reception and Years 1 and 2. Appendix 2 contained the details of the works that needed to be carried out from the Local Authority maintained schools allocation.

Reason(s) For Decision

To deliver and implement the capital programmes.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

Not applicable.

Implementation Date

Capital programmes for 2014/15 to be implemented from 1 April 2014.

RESOLVED: That

1)    the capital funding available for 2014/15 be noted;

2)    the position in respect of Basic Need be noted;

3)    the proposals to be funded from Universal Infant Free School Meals capital be approved;

4)    the proposals to be funded from Capital Maintenance and Capital Expenditure Revenue Account be approved;

5)    the proposals for Halebank Voluntary Controlled Church of England Primary School be approved; and

6)    Council be recommended to approve the Capital Programme 2014/15.