Wick Schools Stakeholder meeting
Monday 23 February 2015, 7pm, Wick High School
Minute of Meeting
1. Apologies/Introductions
Attendees: Lawrence Bews Head Teacher North Primary Iain Baikie Wick High School Parent Council Allan Farquhar Royal Burgh of Wick Community Council Traylan Peat Disability Access Panel Caithness Ruan Peat Highlife Highland Philip Shannon The Highland Council Ally Budge Head Teacher Hillhead Primary School Ewen Pearson Hillhead Parent Council Councillor Bill Fernie The Highland Council Councillor Gail Ross The Highland Council Maurice McIntyre Highland Council, Area Care & Learning Manager Fiona Grant Wick High School, Rector Grant MacKenzie Wick High School Brian Porter The Highland Council, Head of Resources Linda Shearer Hub North Scotland Ian Leslie Hub North Scotland Lilian Wark Pulteneytown Academy Chris Connor Morrison Construction Pat Ramsay South School Graeme Ross Highlife Highland Cameron Stewart Morrison Construction Anna McBride Wick High School Sindy Rudhall Wick High Parents Council Keith Moncur Highlife Highland Lesley Henstridge North School Parent Council Arlene Farquhar North School Parent Council Hamish Robertson Morrison Construction Stewart Johnson Morrison Construction
Apologies: Councillor Neil MacDonald The Highland Council
2. Minutes of Last Meeting
Item 1.2 Pat Ramsay advised the minute should show it was her, not Lilian Wark, who had made the comment.
Pat Ramsay stated she had been omitted from distribution list for agenda. Brian Porter confirmed this had been resolved.
Arlene Farquhar advised she was not receiving copies of agendas and minutes. Brian Porter indicated he would look into. 3. Matters Arising from Last Meeting and Action Tracker
Brian Porter talked through the updated action tracker, highlighting any outstanding items not otherwise covered elsewhere on the agenda.
4. Update
Brian Porter provided an update on project progress including:
Campus – confirmation again that financial close was achieved on 19 December which meant the main contract for the campus project was now signed off and a fixed cost of £48.5m and a contractual completion date of 16 September 2016 agreed.
Noss – advised that the contractor had indicated the impact of storm damage in January was likely to have some programme impact. The Council was working with the contractor to assess the implications and this would be reported back to the next meeting.
Noss ICT – an update was provided on recent discussions in relation to ICT, as well as some of the new initiatives the Council was exploring across the schools estate.
Project roles – it was confirmed that with financial close now achieved, the contracts of Ken Allan and Brenda Jones, who had been key members of the Council team, had reached their conclusion. Brian Porter recorded his thanks to both for their support in relation to the project. Ian Leslie was introduced as Hub North Scotland Project Director. Maurice McIntyre was introduced as Area Care and Learning Manager for Highland Council, who would take lead role for the Council in future stakeholder meetings.
5. Construction Progress
Cameron Stewart, Hamish Robertson and Chris Connor from Morrison Construction provided a presentation on progress with the Noss and Campus projects.
During discussion:-
Morrison’s advised that Pulteneytown People’s Project had been approached about placements but had not as yet responded to the contractor to take up opportunities.
Morrison’s confirmed that an estimated £2.1m-£2.5m had been put into local economy.
Pulteneytown Primary School are planning a site viewing of the Joint Campus site from the Pulteneytown Primary School at their parents evening on 4th March. Updated SRTS plans to be put up at this event. £500 donated to the High School by Morrison Construction for the ‘Rock Challenge’.
6. Safer Routes to Schools (SRtS)
Brian Porter provided an update on progress in relation to SRtS and confirmed that:-
In relation to Noss, the one-way traffic order had been approved at the Area Committee, phase 1 works were underway and due to complete by 31 March, with phase 2 works during Q2 2015. There were 2 main outstanding issues in relation to school crossing patrollers and the staxigoe bus route which Council officials had yet to finalise a position on.
In relation to the Campus the most recent SRtS meeting was 11 February with further meetings to be arranged to progress discussions.
20 MPH expansion zones to be progressed.
In discussion, stakeholders expressed concern over the time taken to reach a conclusion on the issues of school crossing patrollers and the staxigoe bus route. A commitment was given to feedback as soon as possible.
7. Transition Arrangements
Maurice McIntyre confirmed that arrangements would be progressed for transition groups for the new schools, involving key Council officers.
8. Comments/Questions
All weather pitch pathway – Council officers were pressed to progress asap and commit to a date when would be available. Officers confirmed that the proposal was being evaluated at present and it was hoped that the pathway may be completed by end March.
Expected Noss delay due to storm damage – officers confirmed that a revised completion date would be confirmed for the next stakeholder meeting.
Staffing - Any changes to staff circumstances will be done through the standard Council procedures.
Project management costs – can information be provided to show of the £48.5m, how much was associated with project management versus construction etc. Details of contract etc – sight of the contract was requested to understand the project cost and why costs had increased. The group were advised that the contract would not be made available on grounds of commercial confidentiality. It was re-stated that the Campus project had a fixed £48.5m cost.
School and public transport – concerns were expressed about quality of transport provision in Caithness and who within the Council this could be raised with, to then address with bus operators. Post meeting note – feedback from the group was provided to the Council’s Transport Team to look into.
Programme – question asked about how HC evaluate contractor performance against programme. Philip Shannon explained regular monitoring meetings and reporting arrangements were in place. He would consider what information could be shared with future stakeholder meetings.
9. Date of Next meeting
Monday 27 April 7pm