Un-funded budget doesn't seem to worry ESC

Tuesday 12 November 2024

Education, Sport, and Culture has said work on redeveloping Les Ozouets Campus is at an advanced stage - with any risk of the project being defunded seemingly not causing much concern.

The ESC President told a Scrutiny Management Committee Hearing yesterday that work on the Transforming Education Programme is continuing apace, with work at Les Ozouets Campus in particular reaching a crucial stage before last week's budget debate.

Deputy Andrea Dudley-Owen reminded the Scrutiny panel that the Transforming Education Programme (TEP) has already been approved for funding through the States' Funding and Investment Plan, saying that "the Les Ozouets Campus is, and the TEP program is, very, very far advanced, and certainly we are nearing the completion of the phase two tender...we were discussing tax options and the funding of revenue for budget, not of capital projects."

Having previously been approved for funding and then de-funded before work could start, political decisions are a "risk" for ESC, acknowledged Deputy Dudley-Owen, but she maintained a confident air that the progress made in the TEP so far would secure its continued funding as she and her ESC panel answered questions yesterday morning.

However, Deputy Simon Fairclough - who was sitting on the Scrutiny panel - reminded the ESC panel of the words of Deputy Lyndon Trott, shortly after the 2025 Budget debate had concluded on Friday evening.

The Policy and Resources President said: "There are probably going to be disappointed people within the education system".

Pictured (l-r): The Scrutiny panel for yesterday's ESC hearing comprised Deputy John Dyke, Vice President of Scrutiny Deputy Simon Fairclough, Mark Huntingdon, Scrutiny President Deputy Yvonne Burford, and Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez.

Deputy Fairclough suggested that implied the funding for the long term future of the Transforming Education Programme is at risk as the island faces budget cuts in the short-term. 

"I appreciate your point about revenue versus capital, and the States are going to have another debate about it, but there will be implications, as we all know, to the States not approving the budget, or at least the funding of it, last week," he said.

"I don't want to get bogged down in that, but, but in terms of (education's) estate, after the Scrutiny hearing last year, Deputy Haskins told us the consultants had advised the (ESC) committee that La Mare (High School) was not fit for purpose for the medium or long term. So with with no funding in sight currently to commence work on the Sixth Form Centre (at Les Ozouets), how will you deal with this issue? If, as looks possible, it runs on longer than four years?"

ESC Vice-President, Deputy Sam Haskins replied - without mentioning the long term plans for the Sixth Form to be co-located at Les Ozouets with The Guernsey Institute.

He seemed confident that short term investment at least, will continue undeterred by the 2025 Budget being unfunded.

"...with regards to your question on La Mare, there has been investment already, and it is in plans. I appreciate, right now you're questioning, all funding because of because of the budget. Now the States doesn't stop just because of the decisions that we've made, and there are different budgets, like minor capital that will continue to make sure that education buildings in general in the States are appropriately maintained."

Ed Gowan, TEP Manager was invited to the table to give an update on the project and work at Les Ozouets and La Mare de Carteret in particular. He reminded the Scrutiny panel of decisions that have already been made. 

"In January this year, the States made a very clear decision to phase the overarching investment in Les Ozouets campus, with phase one being wholly focused on further education, so The Guernsey Institute, and phase two, which is not a funded element of the current capital portfolio being the creation of a new Sixth Form Centre."

He said work on 'phase one' of the Les Ozouets projects is progressing well with large steps forward made in the 10months since its funded was agreed by the States. 

"The demolition works at the old St Peter Port School, which is a prerequisite for any new build there, clearly has now completed, subject to final work on checking any contamination under the old boiler plant on that site.

"The enabling works, which enable us to then move rapidly into future construction are also progressing well. We've now completed some works within the building of the Performing Arts Centre, and as of last week we commenced construction of a roadway around the site. That roadway is dual purpose as it both enables the building works, but it's also the permanent roadway which goes around the outside of a Performing Arts Centre and behind it for the new site design.

"Third, and certainly not least, we are now in the tail end of the procurement process for the main construction works. That procurement process has had in itself two stages which has always been part of the advice we've received from procurement services about the best way to deliver this particular form of contract. The first has been to identify the prime contractor, which will be Roc, as I believe, was publicly announced in the summer. And then the second is working with Roc to agree the sub supply chain. To give you a sense of that, we have over 150 quotes being requested from the local and UK construction market to ensure we get best value for money, spread across well into double digits worth of sub contracted packages of work, and it's that complexity of supply chain which is precisely why we have this two phase, prime and subcontractor market. It's not advised, in this instance, to simply go to one company and say, what's it going to cost you and they deliver all of it. It's best to have that clarity and transparency that they are seeking value for money. That process is now in its final stages, due to complete before Christmas, and we'd be anticipating bringing the request to the Policy and Resources Committee to enter full contract, for all that work early in 2025 so that's progressing well.

"What that doesn't address, just for clarity, is anything to do with what was described as phase two of potential investments at Les Ozouets campus. It doesn't touch on the Sixth Form Center, which is a separate matter."

The ESC panel went on to confirm expenditure at La Mare de Carteret before the Sixth Form Centre moves there, for a minimum of four years, next September.

Spending on structural or internal improvements which cannot then be moved elsewhere is expected to be below £200,000 while spending on anything which can be moved with the Sixth Form Centre when the time comes is being accounted for separately. This will include things like bike shelters. 

Pictured top: The ESC panel at yesterday's Scrutiny hearing comprised Sophie Roughsedge, Nick Hynes, Deputy Andrea Dudley-Owen, and Deputy Sam Haskins.