Decision details

A report was submitted to consider and approve variations to the 2023/24 schools capital programme.

It was highlighted that Turton and Belmont Primary School was a small rural school with an admission number of 98. The school is a traditional stone-built village school built in 1898. The school had 4 classrooms, one small multiuse space (typically used for music, drama, professional meetings) and operates mixed age range teaching. The school had benefitted from some expansion and refurbishment over the years to make best use of the available space for pupils, however some challenges remained.

Witton Academy were expanding the capacity of the school from an admission number of 240 to 270 per year group to support the Borough’s increased secondary school place pressures. An initial grant of £650k was approved by the Council’s Executive Board in March 2023 for the refurbishment of the former Witton City Learning Centre, alongside approval to enter into a 125-academy style lease.

Other variations to the total value of £12,500, including:

• Meadowhead Junior replacement doors and shutters, requires a budget uplift of £9,000 due to additional asbestos works and the tender value return being greater than the initial estimate.

• Lower Darwen Primary School Heating Scheme requires a budget uplift of £1,100 due to required changes to the scope of works.

• Meadowhead Infant Schools Drainage installations requires a budget uplift of £2,400 due to additional collapsed drains.

RESOLVED –

That the Executive Board approves:

·       A new scheme to the value of £390,000 at Turton and Belmont Primary School

·       A budget increase of £95,000 for the expansion at Witton Academy

·       Variations to a number of smaller schemes to the value of £12,500