To consider a report by County Councillor Pete Roberts, Cabinet Member for a Learning Powys.
Minutes:
Cabinet was asked to approve the submission of a new Strategic Outline Case/Outline Business Case (SOC/OBC) to develop a new all-age school building for Ysgol Bro Hyddgen, Machynlleth. This replaced the previous version that was approved by Cabinet in September 2020, and no longer included leisure facilities which would continue to be provided from Bro Ddyfi Leisure Centre.
The total cost of the project was £49,120,375 to be funded with a 65% contribution by Welsh Government and 35% by the County Council.
The Cabinet Member welcomed the comments of the Learning and Skills Scrutiny Committee.
County Councillor Elwyn Vaughan spoke as the Chair of Governors of Ysgol Bro Hyddgen. He said that whilst there was disappointment that leisure facilities were included in the new option, there was recognition of the need to be pragmatic and to quickly replace the current building.
County Councillor Aled Davies spoke as leader of the opposition. He noted that there would be significant costs at the leisure centre over the next 10 years and he urged the Cabinet to adopt a phased approach so that wet side facilities could be added later. He also sought an assurance that there would be no downgrading or mothballing of leisure centre facilities.
The Cabinet Member for a Learning Powys reminded colleagues that the focus had to be to deliver a new school for Machynlleth and that any delay would push up costs. The Cabinet Member for a More Prosperous Powys noted that the leisure centres had been underfunded for years and that there was a huge maintenance backlog.
RESOLVED
a) To approve the new SOC/OBC for submission to the Welsh Government based on a new preferred option to build a 540-place all-age school in Machynlleth to replace the current Ysgol Bro Hyddgen primary and secondary phase buildings. It will also incorporate early years facilities, a community room that is available after hours, and an additional learning needs centre, along with wellbeing areas throughout the school, external areas and a 3G pitch. The design could also include a space for a public library, if that is required. The reasons for this are as follows:
· This scheme is affordable within the Council’s Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme Band B funding envelope, and frees up further funding to be utilised on other school projects.
· The estimated costs are lower than the original costs of the community campus, and significantly lower than the updated projected costs of that model
· If approved by the Welsh Government, the Council can then commence the procurement process to appoint a Design and Build contractor and progress to full business case stage.
· Welsh Government intervention rate for Band B programme is 65%, which represents good value for money for the Council.
· Provides an opportunity to draw down additional funding from the Welsh Government from achieving carbon zero in operation.
b) To approve the revised off-site highways cost of £852,600 and to include in the Capital Programme. These costs are not eligible Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme expenditure and will be 100% Powys County Council funded.
c) That the Council seeks additional funding from alternative sources to support leisure centres across the county, including Bro Ddyfi Leisure Centre.
d) That a period of public engagement is undertaken to understand the views of the community about relocating Machynlleth Library to the new build school.
Supporting documents: