Issue - meetings
Grant Payment for St Anne’s Catholic Primary School Expansion
Meeting: 12/01/2022 - Grants Determination (Cabinet) Sub-Committee (Item 6)
6 Grant Payment for St Anne’s Catholic Primary School Expansion PDF 249 KB
Additional documents:
Minutes:
Terry Bryan, Pupil Services (Admissions, Exclusions) Education and Partnerships and Honora Brinkley (Senior Capital Client Officer) presented the report. It was noted that a budget of £1.3M was approved by Cabinet for the expansion of St Anne’s school in September 2020 – following the closure of the Guardian Angels Catholic Primary school. This report seeks approval to pay this allocated budget, as a grant, to The Roman Catholic Diocese of Westminster to support timely delivery of the expansion project. This was subject to compliance with the funding conditions.
The report also set out the arrangements for securing the council’s position in relation to the LBTHpart of land at Guardian Angels. A formal offer will only be made once a grant agreement had been entered into with the Diocese to ensure matters regarding the land had been completed to its satisfaction.
The Sub – Committee noted the questions submitted on behalf of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee regarding the following:
· Mitigations for the reduction in reception places in the catchment area by 30 – officers highlighted the background to the expansion plans. There has been a separate consultation on the closure of the school and the Mayor in Cabinet has approved this. The affected pupils had opted to move to St Anne’s school and places had been provided for. The closure had been offset.
· Plans to reimburse the costs of the works. Assurances were sought regarding the completion of an inspection to ensure it was satisfactory. In response, Officers referred to the Legal grant agreement, which set out how the works will be inspected, including the plans for a project closure report. It was confirmed that grant will only be released on receipt of satisfactory evidence of completion of works.
The Committee discussed a number of issues as set out below:
· Impact of school closures. It was noted that Officers were mindful of the need to increased capacity of schools following closures. They gave assurances about the contingency plans in place in the event of unforeseen issues.
· The Grants conditions. Officers confirmed that payment will only be made once matters regarding the ownership and proceeds from the sale of the land at the former Guardian Angels School have been completed to the council’s satisfaction. The Council will ultimately be re-imbursed for the sale of the land, following a Section 77 application to the DfE.
RESOLVED:
1. Authorise the Corporate Director of Children and Culture to issue a formal offer of grant to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Westminster to a maximum of £1.3M towards the costs for the expansion of St Anne’s Catholic Primary School
2. Delegate the Corporate Director of Children and Culture the power to authorise the execution of any agreements necessary to give effect to recommendation 1