Feasibility Study - Campbeltown Education Estate
Argyll and Bute Council · 14 December 2023
Back to Community Services Committee — 14 December 2023 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 At the Community Services Committee on 9 March 2023 it was agreed:- The Committee agreed to request that the Executive Director with responsibility for Education prepare an initial report outlining the way forward and potential for a proposal in terms of the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010 which would allow for an initial business case to be formulated with a view to replacing the existing outdated Campbeltown primary schools of Dalintober and Castlehill, and that the completed report be presented to a meeting of the Community Services Committee. 1.2 This update report outlines the steps taken to fulfil this request. 1.3 The Council recently received notification that it was successful in obtaining Learning Estate Investment Programme (LEIP) funding from the Scottish Government for a new campus on Mull, which is the Councils number one priority as determined in the Learning Estate Strategy. This means that the Council’s principal focus of the Education capital budget and priority for strategic change will be required to support the Council contribution to the Mull project over the coming few years. 1.4 Therefore, at this time there is no available budget to support the funding of a significant change project to the learning estate in Campbeltown. Notwithstanding this, both asset sustainability work and investment will continue to be delivered in Campbeltown (and elsewhere) and recent works in 2023 have improved some areas of condition. Work undertaken in this review will also be able to be recommenced if or when funding becomes available. 2.0 RECOMMENDATIONS 2.1 It is recommended that the Community Services Committee: 2.1.1 Note the Campbeltown feasibility study that has been undertaken and acknowledge that this can be retained for review at a later date should funding become available; and 2.1.2 Agree that at this time, the Councils Learning Estate Strategy has determined that Mull is the number one priority and therefore must take precedence for any funding. ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE COMMERCIAL SERVICES / EDUCATION 14 DECEMBER 2023 FEASIBILITY STUDY – CAMPBELTOWN EDUCATION ESTATE
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3.0 DETAIL 3.1 The Council worked with a consultant team to undertake a feasibility study to look at a number of potential options to fulfil this request from the Committee and understand potential options and high level costs associated with them. Options Appraisal 3.2 The feasibility study looked at a number of options and high level costings to deliver these range from £4m to £24m. Prioritisation / Learning Estate Investment Programme (LEIP) 3.3 The Learning Estate Strategy carried out in 2021 determined that Mull and Islay were the top 1 and 2 priorities for the Council. A submission for funding from the Learning Estate Improvement Programme was made in October 2022 to support a new campus on Mull. The Council was advised in October 2023 that the bid had been successful. The funding however only supports up to 50% of eligible costs and therefore requires significant investment from the Council. The affordability of this project will mean that the Council is not in a position to commit to any further strategic investment in education estate at this time. 3.4 The feasibility study carried out on the learning estate in Campbeltown has identified a number of viable options which could be taken forward should funding become available in the future. Investment in Campbeltown 3.5 There have been recent capital works undertaken to both Dalintober Primary and Castlehill Primary to improve the learning environment within both schools in 2023. Whilst this does not take either school to the standard of a new build, it has made the learning spaces much more conducive to the type of space that the Council aspires to create for all learners. There will continue to be a focus on improving asset sustainability but strategic investment to the quantum identified in para 3.2 is not currently affordable. 3.6 The LEIP funding for a new campus on Mull means that the focus for the immediate future must be on delivery of the funding requirements for this project. A review of the Learning Estate Strategy priorities could mean that should funding become available in the future, the feasibility study undertaken can be reviewed with a view to implementing an option identified. 4.0 IMPLICATIONS 4.1 Policy – none 4.2 Financial – none 4.3 Legal – none 4.4 HR – none 4.5 Fairer Scotland Duty: 4.5.1 Equalities - protected characteristics – none 4.5.2 Socio-economic Duty – none 4.5.3 Islands – none
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4.6 Climate Change – none 4.7 Risk – none 4.8 Customer Service – none Douglas Hendry – Executive Director with responsibility for Commercial Services and Education Councillor Yvonne McNeilly – Policy Lead for Education For further information contact: Ross McLaughlin, Head of Commercial Services Jennifer Crocket, Chief Education Officer, Head of Education Wendy Brownlie, Head of Education