Decision details

The report of the Head of Learning incorporating the combined Strategic Outline Case and Outline Business Case (SOC/OBC) to expand Ysgol y Graig by building a new Foundation Phase block and closing Ysgol Talwrn was presented for the Executive’s consideration.

The Portfolio Member for Education, Libraries, Culture and Youth said that the SOC/OBC   report is technical in nature and sets out the strategic, economic, commercial, financial and management grounds for expanding Ysgol y Graig by building a new Foundation Phase block and closing Ysgol Talwrn in line with the 21st Century Schools Business case process for capital funding for the project.

The Head of Learning said that the SOC/OBC sets out the case for the modernisation of the schools in the eastern part of Llangefni with the preferred way forward being to build a new Foundation Phase Block at Ysgol y Graig to accept the increasing number of pupils in the catchment area and to take the pupils from Ysgol Talwrn which would then close. The Officer provided a brief summary of the main sections of the report encompassing the anticipated project costs, the specification for the build, the potential site for the new block, the proposed procurement process and intended timescale for delivering the project.

Councillor Aled Morris Jones, Chair of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee reported from the Committee’s meeting held on 10 December, 2018 to which the SOC/OBC had been presented. He summarised the Committee’s views on the matter which he noted were not necessarily his own, as follows –

•           Concerns were raised about the preferred location for the extension to the current Ysgol y Graig, reallocation of the car park and the challenges associated with running the school from two separate buildings.

•           Concerns were also expressed about traffic conditions and issues relating to road safety within the vicinity of the site whilst construction work is ongoing.

•           The Committee was clear about the need to continually refine the final costs of the project once a decision has been made about the exact location of the proposed extension and car park.

•           Although recognising that the Strategic and Business case is currently in outline from only, the Committee felt that the information provided was overly sketchy and was vague on a number of points.

•           Having considered all the information presented as well as the clarifications provided by the Officers on the points raised, the Committee resolved to recommend to the Executive that it approves the SOC/OBC and submits the document to Welsh Government.

The Executive in thanking the Corporate Scrutiny Committee for its comments concurred that the new Foundation Phase Block needs to be situated as close as possible to the existing Ysgol y Graig building and that efforts to achieve this outcome should continue.

It was resolved to approve the following –

•           The combined Strategic Outline Case and Outline Business Case (SOC/OBC) to expand Ysgol y Graig by building a new Foundation Phase Block and to close Ysgol Talwrn.

•           The submission of the combined SOC/OBC to Welsh Government, and

•           Ring-fencing capital receipts for the construction of the new Foundation Phase building subject to there being no problems with selling the site(s).