The official version of this document can be found via the PDF button.
The below content has been automatically generated from the original PDF and some formatting may have been lost, therefore it should not be relied upon to extract citations or propose amendments.
19-21 Broad Street | St Helier Jersey | JE2 3RR
Deputy Catherine Curtis
Chair – Children, Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel
Sent by email only 31 October 2024
Dear Chair,
Scrutiny Review: Proposed Budget 2025 -2028
Further to the Minister's letter of response sent yesterday please see the below answers to the two remaining questions. Please do not hesitate to contact us again if you require any further information.
The Panel has visited Highlands College and is aware that there are leaks and water damage in the property. Would damage to equipment caused by property deficiencies be covered by insurance?
Each potential claim would be contingent upon the specific circumstances, particularly regarding the proximate cause of the damage. For instance, if equipment were damaged because of an incident similar to Storm Ciaran, it is likely that the policy would provide coverage. However, the situation may not be as straightforward for damage to equipment within the property caused by water ingress. It is possible that the resultant damage to the equipment in the premise may be covered, but the damage to the property itself would probably not be covered if it is caused by wear and tear and/or property deficiencies.
Can you confirm whether any areas of Highlands College have been identified as high risk with regards to health and safety compliance, or fire safety?
The current state of Highlands College and University College Jersey has been informed following an independent Condition Survey led by Jersey Property Holdings. This condition survey highlighted the requirement to invest in essential and urgent works necessary to maintain a safe environment for students, staff, and visitors. The survey identified high risk concerns, including fire safety compliance, with works required across a number of areas of the campus. This included, for example, the replacement of boilers and pipework, structural repairs, upgrades to electrical infrastructure and heating systems, repairs to stop water ingress, improvements to windows and roof structures and the replacement of ventilation systems.
The Fire Risk Assessments conducted at the beginning and end of 2023, identified specific areas for improvement, which included, for example, the installation of new fire doors and emergency lighting systems, the removal of fire loading, compartmentation and improvements to inner rooms and emergency corridors.
Some of these issues have now been addressed through changes to operational practices. The Fire Mitigation Programme will continue to address a number of outstanding issues into 2025 and onwards and we will prioritise these works accordingly.
Yours sincerely,
Deputy Carina Alves
Assistant Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning