The Strategic Director of Social Care and Education will provide Members with a verbal update on the latest position.
Minutes:
The Strategic Director of City Development and Neighbourhood Services presented a presentation and gave a verbal update to the Commission on the latest position of RAAC in Leicester City Schools. It was noted that:
· RAAC was extensively used in building across the 1950s and 1980s in post war construction.
· RAAC was originally intended to have a 30 year life span.
· The codes of practice associated with the design of RAAC from the 1950s to1980s were CP114 Reinforced Concrete in Buildings and CP116 Structural Use of Precast Concrete.
· The building codes recommended minimum end bearings of only 45mm for roof panels and 60mm for floor panels.
· Structural concerns of RAAC had been known about, the concerns around RAAC first emerged more seriously in 2018 which focused on a management style approach and to review it periodically.
· Since 2018 the guidance continued to evolve. In December 2022 the DfE changed the guidance significantly and introduced a 5 stage process.
· In April 2023 the Institute of Engineers (IStructE) issued guidance on being more definitive in relation to end bearings. It was stated that any end bearings below 75mm presented unacceptable structural risk to buildings.
· The first school in the UK to be assessed under the new guidance was Mayflower Primary School. LCC were the first Local Authority to get involved with RAAC and move the situation forward in terms of information that was given to the DfE and look more closely at the ramifications of the IStructE Guidance.
· An analysis of every single school was completed based on age of construction type.
· Focus visits had been conducted between LCC and the DfE. Any school closures or agreements were agreed between LCC and the DfE technical advisor to ensure a joint approach with the education body.
· Mayflower School was having a temporary school built, this was being completed by the DfE. LCC were supporting with help from the Planning and Estates provision.
· The two schools affected in Leicester are Mayflower Primary School and Parks Primary School.
· Work has been quickly to avoid an impact on children’s education. Parks Primary were operating from two local council owned buildings.
· LCC were meeting weekly with the DfE to ensure that the education settings is right for children and staff.
· Parks Primary will have to have a temporary school arrangement, which was being put into place. They will also require a full rebuild.
· RAAC isn’t exclusive to schools. 1500 analysis checks had been completed on LCC buildings and 100 site visits. Only 1 building was being looked at more closely with intrusive surveys, all other buildings had been confirmed as not having RAAC.
· All LCC housing stock had also been confirmed as non RAAC.
The following was noted from discussions and questions from Members:
· RAAC can sometimes structurally look similar to other concrete panels. This was the case at Willowbrook School, which is an academy in Leicester and had a number of intrusive surveys which determined it wasn’t RAAC.
· The mean average at Mayflower School was 52mm. The survey went through every panel centrally and by the end every ceiling in the school had been pulled down.
· Mayflower School was an unexpected event and within 48 hours we a face to face provision was put into place.
· LCC pushed the DfE and advised they did not want the children to be located over several sites and was able to grant permission for a temporary school to be built in one location.
· The building that was due to have a more intrusive survey, the RAAC was only located in an isolated area, this had been closed off and the rest of the building was operational.
· One special school had concerns and a survey was completed. The surveys were handled in a different way, to cause minimal disruption to the children attending.
AGREED:
Members had been reassured that possible rack issues in schools were being addressed and all schools in the city have the requirements for the safety standards.