Abronhill Community Hub
North Lanarkshire Council · 16 March 2023
Back to Policy and Strategy Committee — 16 March 2023 and its agenda
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North Lanarkshire Council Report Policy and Strategy Committee Does this report require to be approved? ☐ Yes ☒ No Ref CMcC/JMcK Date 16/03/23 Abronhill Community Hub From James McKinstry, Chief Officer (Assets & Procurement) E-mail mckinstryj@northlan.gov.uk Telephone 07939281102 Executive Summary At the Policy and Strategy Committee meeting on 1st October 2020, members approved that feasibility work associated with Abronhill Community Hub could commence, through the “Town and Community Hub Programme of Work” report approved at that committee. The purpose of feasibility work is to establish if a community hub could be delivered on the land of the former Abronhill High School and surrounding land. It was recognised, in line with appropriate governance arrangements, that further approvals would be required following completion of this feasibility stage, to move the project forward to delivery phase. The feasibility work for this project is now complete and it has been determined that it is feasible for a hub, to house two primary schools on a shared campus, a family learning centre, a health centre, and community facilities – to be delivered at the proposed site. As part of the feasibility exercise, indicative costs were also established. Elected members have been updated at various committees over the last year on market volatility; inflationary pressures; and external factors; all of which are placing significant pressure on the council’s capital budget. The Town and Community Hub Programme, like all other programmes, must manage the projects in line with the budget allocation provided to the hub programme, within the current five-year capital programme. It has been determined that a hub can feasibly be delivered on the preferred site. However, due to the external pressures and commercial environment linked to this programme, there is significant pressure on funding allocated to the projects across the Town & Community Hub Programme. Due to insufficient availability of funds, at this time, this project cannot be taken forward. As such, members are advised that the Hub Programme Board have reviewed the overall programme and have recommended that future work on the Abronhill Community Hub project should be deferred until such time as sufficient funding becomes available. This project will be evaluated, as a viable project, during the preparation of the next 5-year capital plan which will be developed during 2023 for commencement on 1 April 2024. If and when funding is in place, further approval will be sought at a future meeting.
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1. Background 1.1 Members may recall the ‘One Place – One Plan’ report and presentation to the Policy and Strategy Committee in March 2020. At this meeting, members approved the ‘guiding principles’ and ‘prioritisation matrix’ linked to the Town and Community hub programme. 1.2 Members may recall a subsequent update report in October 2020 where Policy and Strategy approved a feasibility study for a proposed new community hub in Abronhill, Cumbernauld which looked to relocate existing primary provision (Abronhill PS, St Lucy’s PS) along with other nearby facilities. 1.3 Members may recall an update report on “The Place, The Vision”, submitted to Policy and Strategy Committee in September 2021, where, within section 2.23 it was clarified that “It should be emphasised that these projects would be subject to further approvals linked to both anticipated project costs and statutory education consultations. Therefore, these projects are currently only approved to scope the feasibility (and potential costs)”. 1.4 Within the same report, in September 2021, the heading attached to Table 2, (which sits directly above section 2.23 mentioned above), it clearly stated that “Projects will be brought back to committee for approval once the costs are known and it is assessed that the projects are deliverable.” 2. Report 2.1 The proposal to bring forward a new community hub within Abronhill, Cumbernauld was outlined in the business case attached to the report, presented to Policy and Strategy Committee, in October 2020. Within this report, it was outlined that this project was being prioritised due to the availability of a site in the heart of the community, which would regenerate this area, and provide wider benefits to the whole community – and clearly demonstrated an excellent fit with the guiding principles and vision associated with the Town and Community Hub programme, as well as The Plan for North Lanarkshire. Recommendations It is recommended that the Policy and Strategy Committee: (1) Recognise the pressures on the council’s capital programme, the budget associated with the Town and Community Hub Programme, and acknowledge that the Abronhill Community Hub project will not be progressed at this time. (2) Recognise that this project will be a key consideration as part of the next capital programme allocations. The Plan for North Lanarkshire Priority Support all children and young people to realise their full potential Ambition statement (2) Refocus our town centres and communities to be multi- functional connected places which maximise social, economic, and environmental opportunities
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2.2 There are two aspects linked to the delivery of any community hub: 2.2.1 Firstly, can the project be delivered? The feasibility study carried out has determined that it is indeed feasibly to deliver the anticipated facilities and zones within this community hub at the proposed location. 2.2.2 Secondly, is there adequate funding to take this project forward? At the time of requesting the feasibility study, in October 2020, it was projected that there would be sufficient funding to take this project forward. This however, was in the middle of the pandemic; before economic shift across the globe; and before inflationary pressures and pressure on interest rates etc., currently being experienced - were known. 2.3 In September 2022, a report on “inflationary pressures” was presented to the Policy and Strategy Committee. This report outlined the inflationary pressures placed on both capital and revenue budgets across this council. Within section 2.11 of this report, it was acknowledged that due to the size and scale of ‘hub projects’, issues such as market volatility, increased material costs, and continued labour scarcity, all have a negative impact on the costs and budgets associated with the delivery of projects within the hub programme. 2.4 At the same committee in September 2022, a report on the procurement strategy for the hub programme was presented. Within section 2.7 of this report, it was highlighted to members that “the inflation rate has surged at the fastest rate for 30 years”. 2.5 The Town and Community Hub programme budget allocation remains as set and agreed in March 2021 when, through a report submitted to Policy and Strategy in relation to the strategic capital delivery programme, it was approved that the Town and Community Hub Programme was allocated £236.8m. Again, this was based, at that time, on anticipated costs over the five-year programme term, before the economic landscape and associated increased costs emerged. 2.6 Due to pressures on the overall capital programme and wider council finances, the hub programme budget remains static. Therefore, in order to manage the programme, with a static budget, and where project costs have increased significantly, the number of projects which can be delivered (in any given council capital programme) must be reduced in order to maintain a ‘within budget’ approach to the hub programme delivery. Types of hub projects 2.7 The current Town and Community Hub programme (hereafter referred to as ‘the hub programme’) has a mix of projects contained within the current five-year capital plan. 2.7.1 Legacy Projects: These are projects that were already approved for delivery before the change from Schools and Centres 21 programme, to the hub programme. 2.7.2 Capacity Projects: These are projects which are required to significantly increase the capacity of schools, primarily as a result of housing growth within the associated catchment area. 2.7.3 Policy Projects: These are projects which are being brought forward in line with the aspirations of The Plan for North Lanarkshire, and the council ambition to replace all pre-1996 education establishments.
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2.8 Projects included within the current five-year plan all meet one or more of the three types of projects outlined above. Table 2.8 – Categorisation (types) of projects within current five-year programme: Project Legacy Capacity Policy Newmains/St Brigid’s Community Hub Yes Chryston Community Hub Yes Yes Riverbank Community Hub Yes St Kevin’s Community Hub Yes Orbiston Community Hub Yes St Stephen’s Community Hub Yes Gartcosh Community Hub Yes Yes Chryston High Extension Yes Abronhill Community Hub Yes Ravenscraig Community Hub Yes Wishaw Town Hub Yes 2.9 The table above clearly shows that only two projects are neither ‘capacity’ nor ‘legacy’ projects. As outlined to Policy and Strategy Committee in September 2022 within the ‘LEIP Bid’ report, it was established that there is insufficient council funding to progress with the Wishaw Town Hub build at this time. 2.10 Whilst Ravenscraig Community Hub is identified as a capacity related project – there is sufficient capacity within the existing estate to provide places for pupils well beyond 2026. Furthermore, Ravenscraig Community Hub, in part, should be funded from developer contributions and these are yet to be received. Finally, whilst the latest round of Levelling Up Funding (LUF) has shown Ravenscraig to be unsuccessful, it may be that this is subject to further bids in future years, similar to the successful second round allocation for Cumbernauld. Given all of the factors above, the Ravenscraig project, along with the Wishaw Town Hub project, are deferred to be reassessed as part of the next five-year capital plan. 2.11 Even with the exclusion of both Ravenscraig Community Hub, and Wishaw Town Hub, from the current cost projections, the overall programme budget is currently projecting an overspend of over £50m (when including Abronhill Community Hub). 2.12 It is accepted by the Hub Programme Board that ‘Legacy’ projects are prioritised above Policy projects as they are long standing/historical commitments made by the council, are in advanced stages of delivery and have been subject to previous statutory education consultations. Furthermore, it is accepted by the Hub Programme Board that
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‘Capacity’ projects are prioritised as these are required to ensure adequate provision of spaces for pupils within their catchment areas. 2.13 Faced with the projected overspend of over £50m within the Town and Community Hub Programme budget, and the need to deliver both ‘Legacy’ and ‘Capacity’ projects, the Hub Programme Board made the recommendation to pause the only remaining project - Abronhill Community Hub, in order to ensure the programme can remain within budget. Abronhill Community Hub – Next Steps 2.14 It has been determined that a hub can be delivered on the preferred site within Abronhill. As such, this project is at a further advanced stage than any other project not currently prioritised within the Town and Community Hub Programme. 2.15 It is therefore anticipated that, when sufficient funding becomes available, that this project will score strongly from a ‘deliverability’ perspective. 2.16 At this time however, it is proposed that the local stakeholders are made aware of the need to defer this project due to budget pressures and availability of funding. 3. Measures of success 3.1 Clear communication of the need to defer this project, due to external factors which were not present when the project was initially presented. 4. Supporting documentation 1. “Presentation: One Place – One Plan” report – Policy and Strategy Committee, March 2020 2. “Town and Community Hub Update” report – Policy and Strategy Committee, October 2020 3. “PO12: Strategic Capital Investment Programme 2021/22 to 2025/26” report – Policy and Strategy Committee, March 2021 4. “The Place, The Vision – update” report – Policy and Strategy Committee, October 2021 5. “Impact of Inflationary Pressures” report – Policy and Strategy Committee, September 2022 6. “Procurement Strategy – Town & Community Hub Programme” report – Policy and Strategy Committee, September 2022 7. “Learning Estate Improvement Programme (LEIP) – Phase Three: Project Bid to Scottish Government” report – Policy and Strategy Committee, September 2022 All supporting documentation can be accessed via the councils ‘Minute and Reporting System’ (MARS). James McKinstry Chief Officer (Assets & Procurement)
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5. Impacts 5.1 Public Sector Equality Duty and Fairer Scotland Duty Does the report contain information that has an impact as a result of the Public Sector Equality Duty and/or Fairer Scotland Duty? Yes ☐ No ☒ If Yes, please provide a brief summary of the impact? If Yes, has an assessment been carried out and published on the council’s website? https://www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk/your-community/equalities/equality- and-fairer-scotland-duty-impact-assessments Yes ☐ No ☐ 5.2 Financial impact Does the report contain any financial impacts? Yes ☒ No ☐ If Yes, have all relevant financial impacts have been discussed and agreed with Finance? Yes ☒ No ☐ If Yes, please provide a brief summary of the impact? Finance, as a key stakeholder, are represented on the Hub Programme Board. The decision taken, outlined within this report, is to ensure the Hub Programme remains within budget and does not put further pressure on the wider council finances at this time. 5.3 HR policy impact Does the report contain any HR policy or procedure impacts? Yes ☐ No ☒ If Yes, have all relevant HR impacts have been discussed and agreed with People Resources? Yes ☐ No ☐ If Yes, please provide a brief summary of the impact? 5.4 Legal impact Does the report contain any legal impacts (such as general legal matters, statutory considerations (including employment law considerations), or new legislation)? Yes ☐ No ☒ If Yes, have all relevant legal impacts have been discussed and agreed with Legal and Democratic? Yes ☐ No ☐ If Yes, please provide a brief summary of the impact? 5.5 Data protection impact Does the report / project / practice contain or involve the processing of personal data? Yes ☐ No ☒
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If Yes, is the processing of this personal data likely to result in a high risk to the data subject? Yes ☐ No ☐ If Yes, has a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) been carried out and e- mailed to dataprotection@northlan.gov.uk Yes ☐ No ☐ 5.6 Technology / Digital impact Does the report contain information that has an impact on either technology, digital transformation, service redesign / business change processes, data management, or connectivity / broadband / Wi-Fi? Yes ☐ No ☒ If Yes, please provide a brief summary of the impact? Where the impact identifies a requirement for significant technology change, has an assessment been carried out (or is scheduled to be carried out) by the Enterprise Architecture Governance Group (EAGG)? Yes ☐ No ☒ 5.7 Environmental / Carbon impact Does the report / project / practice contain information that has an impact on any environmental or carbon matters? Yes ☐ No ☒ If Yes, please provide a brief summary of the impact? 5.8 Communications impact Does the report contain any information that has an impact on the council’s communications activities? Yes ☒ No ☐ If Yes, please provide a brief summary of the impact? There may be some negative response to the need to defer this project – especially within the local community. 5.9 Risk impact Is there a risk impact? Yes ☒ No ☐ If Yes, please provide a brief summary of the key risks and potential impacts, highlighting where the risk(s) are assessed and recorded (e.g. Corporate or Service or Project Risk Registers), and how they are managed? There may be some negative response to the need to defer this project – especially within the local community. 5.10 Armed Forces Covenant Duty Does the report require to take due regard of the Armed Forces Covenant Duty (i.e. does it relate to healthcare, housing, or education services for in-Service or ex- Service personnel, or their families, or widow(er)s)? Yes ☐ No ☒
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If Yes, please provide a brief summary of the provision which has been made to ensure there has been appropriate consideration of the particular needs of the Armed Forces community to make sure that they do not face disadvantage compared to other citizens in the provision of public services.