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2.4 Senator B.E. Shenton of the Minister for Education, Sport and Culture regarding a post-project review on Phase 1 of the Hautlieu School rebuilding project:
Would the Minister confirm whether a post-project review has been undertaken on Phase 1 of the Hautlieu School rebuilding project and is the Minister satisfied with the management of this capital project to date?
Senator M.E. Vibert (The Minister for Education, Sport and Culture):
A post-project review has not been undertaken on Phase 1 of Hautlieu School as Phase 1 is not yet contractually complete. The project has been managed within the framework of Treasury Code of Direction No. 8 and Phase 1 has been subject to 3- stage internal audits, which has established the department has maintained satisfactory control of the project.
- Deputy R.G. Le Hérissier:
Would the Minister outline what the problems have been? For example, is he happy with the computer-controlled heating conditioning system within the school?
Senator M.E. Vibert :
There have been a number of snags in Phase 1. It was a £26 million project. I regret that there were any snags at all but unfortunately in projects of that size it would be unusual, if not absolutely exceptional, for there to be no snags when it is finished. Why Phase 1 has not been contractually complete is that we are withholding retention monies and ensuring that all these snags are ironed-out. Yes, we have had snags with the heating; we have addressed the acoustics issues; we have replaced flooring in the canteen and done a number of other issues. I regret, as I say, there have been any problems with it. But what I am pleased to say is we have an excellent school delivering excellent education in excellent facilities and I hope everyone is supportive of that.
- Senator B.E. Shenton:
Would the Minister confirm that he will let me have a copy of the full post-project report when it is finalised, and also could he confirm that he will advise the number and cost of the consultants employed on the project?
Senator M.E. Vibert :
No problem at all, if a post-project review is done and the Treasury are reviewing their Code of Direction on that. I would be pleased for Senator Shenton to see it and also, when the project is complete, he can look at all the fees, et cetera, to his heart's content.
- Deputy R.G. Le Hérissier:
Would the Minister confirm whether or not the major faults found, e.g. the canteen floor and the heating system, were faults in design or faults in construction and installation?
Senator M.E. Vibert :
Each snag is looked at individually and then it is tried to work out why it has occurred and they are resolved, either through the contractor taking liability, through insurance, through contingency, whatever is appropriate for the time, whether it is a design fault or contractual fault.
- Deputy G.P. Southern :
On that very theme, can the Minister account for the design fault that means that the entire school cannot be addressed together in the hall? Why was the hall built too small for these rather large size 14 to 18 children?
Senator M.E. Vibert :
The size of the hall, which has been raised before, was designed in conjunction with
the school to accommodate the whole school.
- The Connétable of St. Helier :
The Minister stated that he is satisfied with the building, at least to date. Could he confirm whether the teaching staff and the head teacher are fully satisfied with the building that they have got?
Senator M.E. Vibert :
When I visited the school, Sir, not only the head teacher and the teachers but all the children enjoy their new premises. Of course, they would like all the snags that there have been ironed-out, which we are working on, but it is an excellent school delivering excellent facilities and an excellent education. When I have been up there, the people seem to be enjoying very much the superb facilities they now have.
- Deputy C.H. Egré of St. Peter :
Sir, could the Minister confirm that one of the snags reported was a fire in the air conditioning system?
Senator M.E. Vibert :
It was not a snag; that was a fire. There was a fire in the air conditioning system and ventilation equipment. That has been investigated by insurers. Replacement kit has been ordered and will be fitted from June.
- Deputy G.P. Southern :
Can the Minister confirm that while the hall was designed to fit the entire school in it, it simply has failed to meet its design and cannot?
Senator M.E. Vibert :
There have been discussions about whether it can accommodate the whole school or not and that is to do with the position of the stage and so on. As I say, the hall was
designed in conjunction with the school and was fitted out as the school applied for it
to be fitted out. On reflection, perhaps it could have been a bit bigger, but we designed it in conjunction with the school and it is a superb facility for those who have attended anything in the hall. I would hope that, when required, the whole school on the occasion it is required for the whole school to be in the hall, they will be accommodated in the hall. Of course, the bigger the hall, the bigger the cost.