To receive and consider the Strategic Risk Register reports.
Minutes:
Background: - The Corporate Risk Register was circulated with agenda papers prior to the meeting.
Risk PPPP0031 - If the school building stock deteriorates due to the insufficient level of revenue and major improvement capital funding required to maintain them, then they could become un-safe and not fit for purpose.
Points raised by the Panel:
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Responses received from Officers or Cabinet Members. |
Comments were invited on the building deterioration risk as closely linked to the Sustainable Communities for Learning Transformation Programme, with the schools Transformation capital maintenance programmes significantly pushed back i.e., a £400k maintenance backlog at a potential receiving in school in the north of the County |
The position on schools within the Llanfyllin Catchment review has been determined by the WG under Band C, and additionally affected by the collapse of Dawnus which limited the ability to bring forward new projects. Officers were now preparing submissions to WG. In respect of the wider schools estate there is an oversight, fire inspections have largely been completed, work has been prioritised for the safeguarding measures e.g., fencing highlighted in Estyn reports, with funding from the schools major improvements budget, and there has been significant financial investment in Welshpool High School. |
There was a £20m saving from unspent Capital monies in this financial year, resulting in an additional revenue saving was none of this earmarked for schools. What is the cost in terms of service delivery of not utilising these capital funds. |
During a briefing on the current Welsh Fiscal analysis, it was abundantly clear that there would be a squeeze on Capital with regards WG for the foreseeable future. Cabinet have made clear that to maintain a viable capital programme would be through short-term borrowing and capital receipts. High inflation rates continue to impact on progress that could be made. The £20m has contributed saving towards the revenue budget. If were to spend the £20m, it would add approx. £1.2m to the pressures on the revenue budget in this financial year going into the next. Cabinet were concerned with protecting services moving forward, if act irresponsibly with savings now, there would be difficulties in delivering services of any value in the future. |
Chair asked if the risk was acknowledged by the Scrutiny Committee in the correct manner, should this risk be escalated, as clearly a significant risk with no immediate resolution put forward. Were the ratings of risks which relate to Education matters totally explored. |
The risks cannot be escalated further then at present, it is within the gift of the Scrutiny Committee to request further information from the Services Area that the risk is being managed accordingly. |
Request made that risks to individual schools were being adequately addressed, i.e., boiler and heating issues leading to school closures, impacting on the service delivery for our children’s education further documentation may assist to that reassurance. |
Cabinet Member gave limited assurance in terms of RAAC that almost all Powys schools surveys were completed with the exception of a couple of small roof spaces, and no RAAC had been found. In respect of confidence in the structural integrity of the estate, officers had been tasked with completed full condition surveys of the entire estate, linked in with WG works on energy efficiencies, which would provide a detailed assessment of the backlogged maintenance and the state of the estate as a whole. An update was given in respect of Welshpool High School boiler work and removal of asbestos by specialist contractors whilst no pupils or staff were on site. Assurance given by the Head of Service that regular meetings are held between the Schools & Property Services and Head Teachers to ensure where there was urgent need of repair, that support was prioritised. |
£2.2m was committed to capital works along with an additional £500k concession within the budget for 2023/24 which has been well underspent to date, given the awareness of the state of repairs required why have there not been more projects committed to. |
In terms of the £2.2m there is a full programme of works, although the actual spend that has been processed through the system. The completion of works showed as an underspend currently the funds had been allocated across 33 schools which have or are benefitting from a variety of projects under the programme of works. Low carbon technology capital projects further supported by additional grants from WG. |
Request for the programme of works to be shared with Scrutiny Committee |
Will check with colleagues in Property Services and advise. |
The risk denotes school closures where necessary for works to be completed, could a list of schools with the most significant issues to be shared with the Committee. The residual risk however remains scored at 16 and in pink, any changes made to the risk score, Committee were to be informed. |
In terms of schools likely to close for maintenance / works to be undertaken the service works hard to ensure the situation does not arise wherever possible, with schools being safe and warm for our learners. The score was in respect of the total value in backlog maintenance. The residual risk remains high until the condition works have been completed. |
Clarification requested that the surveys undertaken, which led to the delay of the distribution of the £500k budget concession monies, was for full condition surveys of Powys’ school estate. Further clarification required from the Service Area concerned. |
The delays in the distribution of the £500k were complicated by the announcement of the additional work being undertaken by WG and the need for alignment to ensure duplication of expenditure of public money was not occurring. |
The development of the Well-Being Hub in Newtown adds to the risk as forms an important part of the Newtown Schools Transformation programme, the Committee are unaware of any further progress or outcomes from WG on this project. |
The Scrutiny template on the Strategic Outline Case (SOC) is due to be returned to WG in the coming weeks, to be approved and progressed, aligned with the capital spend challenges to give a degree of clarity early in the New Year. In respect of the new build at Ysgol Calon Y Dderwen, if the SOC does not progress, it would not impact the funding envelope for the school build site. |
Concern was highlighted in relation to Corporate Risk PPPP0031 and the potential partial or full school closures. Committee remained unconvinced that this risk had been fully addressed. On one side capital was squeezed with little spend and on the other, assurance given that everything was undertaken to moderate that risk. Committee needs to have a true understanding of the level risk contained within the condition surveys for individual schools. |
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Actions
1. Request for the programme of works to be shared with Scrutiny Committee – Email sent to Property Services.
2. Clarification requested that the surveys undertaken, which led to the delay of the distribution of the £500k budget concession monies, was for full condition surveys of Powys’ school estate. Further clarification required from the Service Area concerned
3. Any changes made to the risk score; Scrutiny Committee were to be informed.
Observations:
Scrutiny made the following observations:
· The Committee requested that:
o The programme of works be shared with Scrutiny Committee
o The any changes made to the residual risk Committee were to be informed.
o Clarification that the surveys undertaken, which led to the delay of the distribution of the £500k budget concession monies, were for full condition surveys of Powys’ school estate. Further clarification required from the Service Area concerned.
· The Committee expressed concern
o In relation to Corporate Risk PPPP0031 and the potential for partial or full school closures. Committee remained unconvinced that this risk had been fully addressed. On one side capital was squeezed with little spend and on the other, assurance given that everything was undertaken to moderate that risk. Committee needs to have a true understanding of the level risk contained within the condition surveys for individual schools.
Supporting documents: