This in from the council, in their own words. Ed
The Isle of Wight Council’s Executive is due to consider a recommendation to continue the funding of works towards the completion of the Cowes Enterprise College project.
The Executive meets on 8 April and will consider approving a further £357,500 for surveying and other investigatory works and defect rectification at the new enterprise college building – together with design work for landscaping at the site and for demolition of the old high school buildings.
A public meeting will be organised
The interim report before this month’s meeting is an update on progress with the project – managed by Hampshire County Council Property Services since December 2013. The extra funding is needed to maintain the momentum of the project and to ensure that unavoidable work progresses ahead of a full report to be brought to the Executive in May.
Ahead of the Executive meeting in May, the Executive member for children’s services and education, Councillor Richard Priest, has indicated a public meeting will be organised at the college to go through the progress with the project.
He said:
“Since the new council was elected in May 2013, we immediately recognised the need to address the challenges we inherited and to treat all children’s services as a priority. We are determined to do the right thing in the best interest of all our children and, working in partnership with Hampshire, taking this project to completion is part of that commitment.”
The new enterprise college building has been occupied and used as an education facility since September 2013, but there are still significant issues to be resolved. The contractor for the project, PiHL UK, went into administration in September 2013, and another contractor was appointed to undertake “snagging” works.
Outstanding issues
The report to the Executive identifies the key outstanding areas which need to be addressed in relation to the project:
- Rectifying defects and design problems – These include leaks in the roof, replacing doors, ventilation and temperature control concerns.
- Undertaking and completing demolition and external works – These include the demolition of the old high school buildings and the provision of a multi-use games area. A budget still exists for these works, but the work will need to be put out to tender.
- Dealing with remaining issues in relation to the former contractor.
- Completing the transfer of the building and related facilities to the future academy – An academy is due to run the enterprise college from September 2014, and issues will need to be resolved with the academy, as well as the Department for Education and the Education Funding Agency.
The report states that the additional £357,500 recommended for release would be contained within the council’s existing capital budget – but current budgets would be exceeded if further resources are not available from the Education Funding Agency.
Councillor Priest added:
“This report provides an update on the latest position in relation to Cowes Enterprise College and the funding needed to maintain progress with the project. We are planning to stage a public meeting at the college in the near future to explain what is happening, to all interested parties.
“The public meeting will give people the opportunity to ask questions and raise issues in relation to the project – and we will be explaining what works we feel are needed and intend to undertake to achieve completion. There will then be a further report to our May Executive meeting, detailing the remaining work and costings.”
