Cabinet take £1.15million risk on school building projects

Powys County Council is exploring plans to develop new facilities as part of ambitious plans to transform education in Powys and help provide world-class facilities for learners.

At a meeting on Tuesday (May 18) the Cabinet approved a transfer of funds (known as virements) worth £1.15m to start initial feasibility studies and concept design works for new projects at Llandrindod Wells Community Campus, Sennybridge CP School, Brecon Campus Development and Gwernyfed High School.

Head of transformation and communication, Emma Palmer, said: “The reason we are asking cabinet to take this risk, is that we are unable to access additional Welsh Government funding until we have spent 80 per cent of the funding available to us in the 21st Centuries schools programme.

“If we do not take the risk, it could halt the overall programme.

“We have had discussion with Welsh Government officials, we’ve taken on board the approach they have set out, and they can see the commitment from cabinet.”

These initial feasibility studies do not prejudice the outcome of any school reorganisation proposals that are required.

Education portfolio holder Councillor Phyl Davies told his fellow councillors that the four projects had all been agreed previously on September 29, 2020.

Cllr Davies: “It’s important to state this is not a request for further funding, but it is to move money from one scheme to another to conform with the financial strategy and to enable us to take these projects further.

“Providing high-quality teaching and learning environments is one of the aims of our Vision 2025 and our Strategy for Transforming Education in Powys will help us meet these aims.

“The feasibility and concept design works for each of these schemes is essential, not only to inform the council of more accurate project cost estimate but also for business case development in order to draw additional funding from the Welsh Government if it becomes available.

“Approving the virements ensures that our Transforming Education programme can continue at pace and that we have ‘shovel-ready’ projects in place.”

Head of finance, Jane Thomas, said: “In terms of the capital programme these projects are not fully funded at the moment and there is that level of risk should they not proceed, these costs would fall on the revenue budget.”

The virements were approved unanimously.

The money will be used to take projects forward on £500,000 – A new facility at Ysgol Calon Cymru’s Llandrindod Wells campus, £100,000 – 360 place new, dual-stream primary school in Sennybridge, replacing the current building, £350,000 – A new campus on the site of the old Brecon High School which could include a new school, pupil referral unit and swimming pool and merging Mount Streets Infants School, Mount Street Junior School and Cradoc C.P. School and £200,000 – A new campus for Gwernyfed High School.

According to the report the council predicts it will be in the position of 80 per cent completion by August 2022 based on expected full business case approval of projects by Welsh Government.