Kent wave 4: BSF meetings cancelled

[Squelch]

I am in a wave 4 Kent school and found out this morning that all of our planned BSF meetings have been cancelled. Can anyone else in wave 4 confirm?

[laputa01]

Off topic, what is the future of BSF under the new Governement?

[JPS]

It is under review, I would not be surprised if it ceases and a new project is put in its place (my opinion, not fact!) I think that depending on how far along the process your school is will depend on whether it goes ahead. We have started digging (making plenty of noise outside my office!) so we are far enough along the way for the project to continue. Edited June 9, 2010 by JPS

[laputa01]

A message to recruitment companies that keep sending me BSF jobs:

 

BACK OFF!

[sparkeh]

Its being scrapped.

 

Can you quote the source of your information?

 

As far as the Government has announced BSF is 'under review', perhaps you have a source in the know?

*Informational clicky*

Edited June 9, 2010 by sparkeh
Adding source

[JPS]

To be fair I cannot remember my source, it is possible I was reading an article in the TES. Apologies if I am not factually correct but am pretty sure I heard/read it somewhere.

[powdarrmonkey]

In which case, please edit your post and withdraw your assertions, before they get picked up by Google. That's how rumours start, we don't need them perpetuating any further.

[JPS]

In which case, please edit your post and withdraw your assertions, before they get picked up by Google. That's how rumours start, we don't need them perpetuating any further.

 

Edited as requested.

[Squelch]

So, back on topic then. Any other wave 4 people that can confirm?

[ROBOCOP]

Sorry but JPS was perfectly correct in what he stated - the Treasury is performing a review of all planned spending and this includes recent BSFs. The Times have reported "The government is to review all BSF contracts signed after 1 January. Some £2.2bn of contracts have been finalised since then to build 118 new schools, with a further £1.3bn of deals, for 58 schools, having reached selected bidder stage".

 

Also see recent new thread on North-East BSFs.

 

All Wave 4 and Wave 5 BSFs (or subesquent phases) which have not reached Financial Close are to be reviewed and it is at both Local Authorities and bidders risk if they decide to continue with bidding/negotiations whilst the outcome of the review is awaited - this outcome not likely until Autumn 2010 hence many LAs (e.g. Kent) have decide to stop incurring any more spend until they have firm guidance from PfS or the Treasury.

[powdarrmonkey]

Sorry but JPS was perfectly correct in what he stated - the Treasury is performing a review of all planned spending and this includes recent BSFs. The Times have reported "The government is to review all BSF contracts signed after 1 January. Some £2.2bn of contracts have been finalised since then to build 118 new schools, with a further £1.3bn of deals, for 58 schools, having reached selected bidder stage".

 

That is not what he stated originally.

[sparkeh]

Sorry but JPS was perfectly correct in what he stated

 

Perhaps reread the thread to see that originally an unsubstantiated claim was made that has now been edited.

[ROBOCOP]

Sorry - I didn't see that he had edited his reply and didn't read the original which I see from your reply said "it's being scrapped" which I agree is far from confirmed.

 

Will be interesting to hear from everyone involved in BSFs (either being planned, bidding, at selected bidder or in sample schemes in construction) what's happening with them.

[Andycat]

Sorry but JPS was perfectly correct in what he stated - the Treasury is performing a review of all planned spending and this includes recent BSFs. The Times have reported "The government is to review all BSF contracts signed after 1 January. Some £2.2bn of contracts have been finalised since then to build 118 new schools, with a further £1.3bn of deals, for 58 schools, having reached selected bidder stage".

 

We signed financial close on Jan 14th ish I think, so I don't know what will happen here. We've not had any information either way at school level.

[ROBOCOP]

I think you will be ok for the sample schools at least (they are the only schools which the first Financial Close covers) but the following planned phases may be in doubt.

 

I think the Times article wasn't quite correct now I look at it again - I believe only new projects which got Treasury PRG approval to go to market after 1/1/2010 and those projects not yet reached Financial Close are being reviewed.

 

If the Government cancels projects where Financial Close has been reached they will have to award compensation as they are terminating signed and legally binding contracts - this could run to tens if not hundreds of millions especially if the LAs/Schools sue for compensation too.

[Roberto]

I suspect they'll allow the ones they are comitted to doing to go through but not start any new ones. That's certainly what happened when the FE sector's building project ran out of money... We were lucky to get ours approved just before it went belly up, and our new campus does look quite nice.

[elsiegee40]

I'm going to the Kent Governor's Association meeting in Maidstone on Monday evening when Sarah Holder, the KCC cabinet member for Children, Families and Education will do a presentation on "Kent's response to the new Government's plans for Education".

 

I'll post what I learn (if anything! )

[dezt]

Im in wave 4 in Lancashire, we don't know whats going on yet, but our head has told the staff he doesnt think it will go ahead

[ROBOCOP]

Im in wave 4 in Lancashire, we don't know whats going on yet, but our head has told the staff he doesnt think it will go ahead

 

He doesn't know anymore than anyone else which is pretty much zero at the moment so he shouldn't really be offering his opinion to his staff - that said he's probaly right though

[simpsonj]

Take this however you want:

 

Government to halt BSF projects within weeks | Magazine News | Building

 

Apologies, didn't realise the above was a subscription website. You only get to view one article every 30 days without registering.

Edited June 14, 2010 by simpsonj

[ROBOCOP]

Take this however you want:

 

Government to halt BSF projects within weeks | Magazine News | Building

 

Apologies, didn't realise the above was a subscription website. You only get to view one article every 30 days without registering.

 

That was speculation printed nearly 2 weeks ago and there's still be no official line from the Government on what exactly is going to happen.

 

There may be some news in the emergency budget next week but suspect the actual fate of BSF and many schools currently in the middle of the process won't be discovered until after the Government summer recess in early Autumn.

[Andycat]

This was in our local paper at weekend:

Blackburn with Darwen schools scheme 'under threat' (From This Is Lancashire)

[elsiegee40]

I havejust got back from the Kent Governor's Association meeting at Maidstone where there was much discussion of the new academies (KCC don't want us to convert, though they didn't say it directly) and School Improvment Partners, but nothing about BSF

 

So, I asked directly "What's happening to BSF?"

 

The answer was that it's on hold.

Wave 3 is complete.

Wave 4 is on hold pending an announcement from the government which they're not expecting before the budget. They're hoping it will complete

Wave 5 may possibly go ahead with less money

Wave 6 as Wave 5, but there's a chance it could happen before Wave 5!

[Rozzer]

I am in a wave 4 school but guess we were one of the earlier ones as we are due to move in our new build in August. Guess we were very lucky.

 

Ross

[ROBOCOP]

Guess we were very lucky.

 

Depends upon your point of view and if you are due to TUPE - most members here seem to have a very different opinion of BSF and will be overjoyed if it is scrapped.

 

Tell us you're still a 'BSF survivor' in a few years time.