Decision details

In order to address the pupil place shortage in the Gipton and Harehills ward it is necessary to implement a capital project to establish provision for in excess of 160 pupils places.  As such a proposal has been developed to place pupil’s on-roll at Shakespeare Primary and accommodate them in a satellite provision located out of the nearby Bridge Street Community Church.  To achieve this within the limited timescale available it is necessary to implement the following:

•  Issue a letter of intent to Bridge Street Church by close of play Friday 16th February notifying our intent to pursue these works in lieu of a formal lease being in place.

•  Establish and sign a lease between Leeds City Council and Bridge Street Church for the areas to be utilised by Shakespeare Primary School, with affect from circa February 19th 2018.

•  Fund the necessary construction works to allow the vacant facilities at Bridge Street to be utilised for this purpose, noting that the accommodation has been stripped internally in anticipation of future development.  With a view to these works being completed for April 16th 2018, noting that suitable alternative space will be provided by Bridge Street Community Church in the intervening period.

•  Approve a maximum funding envelope of £500k to facilitate these works and establish provision for six classrooms, welfare and staffing requirements.

•  Note that the funding of the aforementioned works is in lieu of rental, utility and staffing charges (with respect to Bridge Street Community Church) and includes regular access to the necessary pre-existing external play facilities locate on this site as well as use of the Church car park by school staff.

The Chief Officer, Learning Improvement agreed to:

1.  Authorise expenditure of £278,988 from capital scheme number 32655/BGE/BRI to Bridge Community Church in the form of a grant.  This funding will be utilised to deliver the works package required to facilitate the conversion of the second floor of the Stewart building at Bridge Community Church into useable teaching accommodation. 

2.  In line with the points detailed in section 5.7 of this report it is recommended that ‘Call-In’ is exempt due to special urgency.

3.  Note that the capital investment is in lieu of all revenue costs associated with using space at Bridge Community Church.

4.  Note the programme dates identified in section 4.0 of this report in relation to the implementation of this decision.  The final delivery date for this scheme is prior to the commencement of term on the 16^th April 2018.

5.  Note that the officer responsible for implementation is the Built Environment Project Officer.

6.  Note that the ‘grant’ detailed within the approval sum under point 1 is for the payment of professional fees associated with the works, enabling works and initial construction works necessary to support the use of Bridge Community Church as an annexe to Shakespeare Primary School.  Due to the urgency of these works a future report will be submitted to cover the remaining costs once these figures have been finalised.

Due to the urgent response required to the additional ‘bulge’ cohorts required ‘in year’ within the Gipton and Harehills ward a project team was established by the Director Resources & Housing.  As such update reports have been provided direct to the Director Resources & Housing who in turn has disseminated this information as appropriate to the Leader of the Council, Chief Executive, Director of Childrens & Families etc.  Additionally, consultation has been ongoing with the Chief Officer Learning Improvement, Shakespeare Primary School, internal LCC departments, Bridge Street Community Church and the ward members.  Representatives from Sufficiency & Participation, Admissions and the Chief Officer for Learning Improvement have been undertaking ongoing consultation with the Education and Skills Funding Agency and the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the School System.

Cllr. Mulherin (Executive Member for Childrens & Families)

Cllr. Bentley (Chair of Scrutiny Board, Children and Families)

Gipton and Harehills Ward Members

Burmantofts and Richmond Hill Ward Members

Chair of Trustees Bridge Street Community Church

Shakespeare Primary School

LCC Procurement, Legal, Finance, Insurance, Asset Management, Admissions, Sufficiency & Participation, Corporate Property Management, City Development, Childrens & Families Communications team.