Balmuildy, Milngavie and Bearsden Primary School Projects

The projects to replace Balmuildy Primary School and the refurbishment of Bearsden and Milngavie Primary schools progressed to the pre-construction phase with a full costing exercise and revised tendered costs completed and reported to Council on Wednesday 21 August.

Both UK inflation and global construction industry costs have increased substantially in recent years and the updated cost for the projects, including costs of borrowing, have now greatly exceeded the initial estimates. This combined with the ongoing challenging financial situation that local government is facing, means it is not affordable at this time to progress to the construction phase. The projects will now be paused - as decided at Council - until such times as either the Council’s revenue budget can support the high level of additional borrowing, or the capital settlement is increased to a level that would support the inclusion of the projects within our capital programme.

At the Council meeting on Thursday 26 September 2024, works to progress with an agreed list of cost-effective remedial works for Bearsden Primary School were approved. This includes some elements of the full refurbishment project. The approved works include the phased replacement of all windows within the school building, replacement of external doors, essential stonework repair or replacement around the window areas, the replacement of the boiler system within the school and the removal of trees / vegetation around the site perimeter where this is deemed necessary. A timetable for undertaking these works will be confirmed shortly.

Following the Council decision on 21 August 2024 to pause the Milngavie Primary School refurbishment project, it was agreed at the Council meeting on Thursday 26 September 2024, that officers should undertake a series of inspections at the school.

The aim of this is to establish a revised list of remedial works to make permanent those temporary repairs undertaken during 2024. This will include plasterwork, painting repairs to flooring and further replacement of ceiling tiles.

Officers are also assessing opportunities for capital investment to replace all external windows and doors based upon the specifications that were agreed as part of the package of works contained within the refurbishment proposal.

Further inspections of the roof covering and rainwater goods of both upper and lower school buildings have been completed, with contractors on site in September to complete further repairs to address water ingress. Whilst recent repairs have been successful in resolving issues at a number of locations, there remain challenges with water ingress during periods of heavy rainfall that officers are seeking to address as soon as possible. Areas of historic water ingress have been and continue to be treated and will be fully remediated.

Until such times as the roof is deemed to be watertight, the plywood repairs completed to a number of the areas throughout the school shall remain in situ. Once it has been established that water is no longer entering the school at these locations, the plywood will be removed and the areas plastered and painted.

Officers are also currently assessing options for expediting the replacement of the roof on both the upper and lower buildings. An assessment of cost, programme and logistics is currently underway, with the outcome to be reported as soon as possible.

Further to the Council decision on 21 August 2024 to pause the Balmuildy Primary School new build project, the below works have been identified within the school. These will be progressed to improve the condition of the existing school until such times the new build project can be reinstated to the Capital Programme.

Works will include the following:

• Repairs to windows and doors where required
• Attending to existing timber cladding and tiles at various locations including at the infant school building projections
• Installation of ventilation in classrooms
• Decoration and painting throughout
• Replacement flooring in circulation areas and gym hall
• Installation of a new suspended ceiling in the gym hall
• Replacement blinds throughout.

Progress updates on the implementation of these measures will be provided to future committees, education staff and to the Parent Council.