UPDATED: Last day of 4-week Lyndale School closure consultation: request for consultation responses

UPDATED: Last day of 4-week Lyndale School closure consultation: request for consultation responses

UPDATED: Last day of 4-week Lyndale School closure consultation: request for consultation responses

                                                       

Councillor Tony Smith at the Special Cabinet Meeting of 4th September 2014 to discuss Lyndale School L to R Cllr Stuart Whittingham, Cllr Tony Smith, Cllr Bernie Mooney, Lyndzay Roberts
Councillor Tony Smith at the Special Cabinet Meeting of 4th September 2014 to discuss Lyndale School L to R Cllr Stuart Whittingham, Cllr Tony Smith, Cllr Bernie Mooney, Lyndzay Roberts

UPDATED 19/11/2014 16:12 to include anonymised consultation response received.

First copy of a response to the consultation (he or she wishes to remain anonymous) is added here:

“I am writing in response to the consultation. As a Wirral resident, I believe that this school should remain open. I am not convinced that it will be in the best interests of the children of Lyndale or the other two schools for Lyndale to close. Further, I have not seen evidence that the independent consultants report was based on an in depth analysis of the children’s needs. The consultant appears to have spent little time with the school staff or parents. These children have really specialist needs and the Council should take into account that the most vulnerable children must be protected the most. This is a matter of humanity. The financial argument is not convincing so why close? ”

Today is the last day of the four-week consultation on closure of the Lyndale School from January 2016. The details are currently on Wirral Council’s website.

Shortly before Christmas on the 17th December 2014 Wirral Council’s Cabinet will meet to discuss (and probably) decide what to do next.

I was planning tomorrow to make a FOI request to responses to this current consultation. Wirral Council refused my FOI request for responses to the previous consultation that ran from 2nd April 2014 to 25th June 2014. I requested an internal review as they stated on the 29th July 2014 they would publish them in September (but never did). I’m still waiting for the internal review.

On the basis I’m sure I’ll get a similar response if I make a FOI request tomorrow for responses to the four-week consultation closing today, if you have responded to this consultation and would like me to publish your response (whether anonymously or not), please email me at john.brace@gmail.com.

I’ll do my best to publish consultation responses I do receive on this blog ahead of the Cabinet meeting on the 17th December 2014.

UPDATED 27/11/2014 You can now read the second consultation response from Cllr Phil Gilchrist here.

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Wirral Council: It's time for change on Lyndale, consultation and decision making

Wirral Council: It’s time for change on Lyndale, consultation and decision making

Wirral Council: It’s time for change on Lyndale, consultation and decision making

Councillor Tony Smith at the Special Cabinet Meeting of 4th September 2014 to discuss Lyndale School L to R Cllr Stuart Whittingham, Cllr Tony Smith, Cllr Bernie Mooney, Lyndzay Roberts
Councillor Tony Smith at the Special Cabinet Meeting of 4th September 2014 to discuss Lyndale School L to R Cllr Stuart Whittingham, Cllr Tony Smith, Cllr Bernie Mooney, Lyndzay Roberts

Well Emma Rigby has beaten me to it by about six to seven hours about the special Cabinet meeting on the 17th December 2014 is to decide on the future of Lyndale School.

The special Cabinet meeting to discuss the future of Lyndale School is now down to meet in Committee Room 1 in Wallasey Town Hall, Brighton Street, Seacombe starting at 6.15pm. It’s a public meeting so anyone can attend. The agenda should be available around the 10th December. However many of the reports that will be on the agenda have already been published either as part of the consultation or for previous Cabinet meetings on this subject.

I’m glad it isn’t the other special meeting of Cabinet next week which will be about something else.

I’ve done a bit of thinking about the consultation, officer advice and councillor decision-making on the subject of disability issues ahead of Friday’s meeting of the Highway and Traffic Representation Panel.

The constitution of Wirral Council states that councillors have to take on board the responses to a consultation and officer advice when making decisions.

What used to happen was a consultation would be agreed. It would run for x weeks or xx weeks, then there’d be a further public meeting at which all the consultation responses were published and the matter discussed.

Now what seems to happen at Wirral Council is this (not just over Lyndale but other matters).

A consultation on whatever change or policy issue is held running from date x to date y.

Following the end of the consultation (date y) Wirral Council employees read through the consultation responses. They then pick out the bits out of the responses they want to and put them in a report. In fact, as the ideas expressed in this report won’t be attributed back to the consultation respondees in academia it would be classed as plagiarism.

Once they’ve cherry picked the bits of the consultation they want to respond to, they’ll include a summary of them in the report, but alter the responses by including a response from officers.

Often these responses will state how the people responding (although they raise valid points) are somehow wrong and the recommendation consulted on should just be agreed (by councillors).

Councillors never see the consultation responses, nor do the public. Some consultation responses people with publishing capabilities (for instance individual councillors or political parties) are published during the consultation.

So what eventually happens is politicians just see a one-sided report written by officers, with brief references to the consultation responses but with more in the report stating officer’s advice than the actual consultation responses.

Naturally anything inconvenient brought up in the consultation, or points raised that officers don’t have a clever answer to gets left out of the public report.

Those who responded to the consultation (if they’re lucky) turn up to the public meeting where this is decided. If by some minor miracle one of the people responding to the consultation actually gets permission to speak at the meeting from the Chair.

Usually they are told they can’t speak as Article 21 although signed up to by Wirral Council was never implemented in their constitution. Although people do have a legal right (in the Human Rights Act 1998 c. 42) to freedom of expression, they will be told they can’t speak either. In an authority that gets annoyed with the press for filming public meetings what do you expect?

In my opinion, it’s a terrible, terrible way to run local democracy and make decisions. It leads to widespread resentment of certain politicians (and Wirral Council employees) and makes people think it’s terribly unfair. Maybe it suits some people though.

It means you have a two tier system. Those with the education, resources and/or connections can get their voice heard on any issue they want. Everyone else (even if they’ve responded to a consultation) just gets lost in the crowd.

It’s something I find personally very wrong about Wirral Council democracy and needs to change as a matter of urgency.

Take both Liverpool City Council and Chester West and Chester as examples. In both cases people can table questions at certain public meetings and speak at public meetings even if they’re not councillors or employees of the organisation.

On Wirral, especially since the abolition of the Area Forums, the public seem to have been written out of the political process. OK they get a vote (or two votes next year), but that’s about it. In many places people know their vote won’t make a difference to the outcome leading to apathy.

The rest of the time (outside of elections) the public are politely ignored by politicians who know they only need to get a minimum of 42% of the votes of the people who do vote to get re-elected under the first past the post system. It’s led to a situation where senior Wirral Council officers and senior politicians have too much power and the checks and balances just aren’t even there or ain’t working.

When the checks and balances are used (such as call in) councillors are just accused of playing party politics for actually holding other politicians to account!

Nothing will change unless the people demand it. Even then the politicians will probably get excuses from the employees as to why changes can’t be made. Even the unions seem to be having a hard time.

I despair of Wirral Council politics at times, I really do! The fallout from what’s going on affects my workplace too. However it’s time to come up with a plan to bring about change and to carry it out. I know the press from a balance perspective aren’t really supposed to have an opinion on matters other than freedom of speech/freedom of expression/the media.

However it’s time to point out that although there are always the elections in May 2015 that the fundamental nature of how Wirral Council makes decisions is either broken, fundamentally flawed or being routinely abused by those with vested interests in maintaining their power base.

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6 more pages of the Wirral Schools Services Limited contract with Wirral Council

6 more pages of the Wirral Schools Services Limited contract with Wirral Council

6 more pages of the Wirral Schools Services Limited contract with Wirral Council

                    

Continues from The first 17 pages of Wirral Council’s contract with Wirral Schools Services Limited. This is a further six pages in the same contract.

THIS AGREEMENT is made on 27 March 2001.

BETWEEN:

(1) WIRRAL BOROUGH COUNCIL of Town Hall, Brighton Street, Wallasey, Wirral, Merseyside, CH44 8ED (the “Authority”; and

(2) WIRRAL SCHOOLS SERVICES LIMITED a company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales with registered number 41156367 whose registered office is at Frogmore Park, Watton-at-Stone, Hertford SG14 3RU (“Project Co”).

BACKGROUND:

(A) By virtue of sections 13 and 14 of the Education Act 1996, the Authority as local education authority is under statutory duties to secure that efficient primary and secondary education are available to meet the needs of the population of its area and that sufficient schools for providing such education are available for its area.

(B) By virtue of section 16 of the Education Act 1996, the Authority as local education authority may, for the purposes of fulfilling the above duties, establish and maintain primary and secondary schools.

(C) By a notice dated 17 November 1998 in the Official Journal, the Authority invited expressions of interest from appropriately qualified tenderers for the provision of accommodation and related support services for eight secondary schools and one primary school in accordance with the Government’s Private Finance Initiative.

(D) Project Co has submitted a proposal which, as negotiated through the negotiated tender process, has been agreed to by the Authority.

(E) The Authority and Project Co have agreed to work together in a spirit of co-operation to achieve the objectives of the Project. The Authority and Project Co have agreed to carry out the Project on the terms and conditions set out in this Agreement.

(F) The Project is a private finance initiative project within the meaning of the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996.

IT IS AGREED as follow:

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PART 1 – INTERPRETATION

1. DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION

1.1 Definitions

In this Agreement (including the Background), the following terms shall, unless the contract otherwise requires, have the following meanings:

“1999 Act” means the Local Government Act 1999;

“Academic Year” means from the first day to the last day (excluding holidays) of the school year, such period not to be more than 195 days;

“Accommodation Actual Completion Date” means, in respect of the Accommodation Works at a Site, the date on which those Accommodation Works are Complete, being either the date stated in the certificate issued persuant to Clause 14.6 (Completion) or if this date is disputed in accordance with the Fast Track Resolution Procedure, the date determined under that procedure, as being the date upon which such certificate should have been issued;

“Accommodation Completion Date” means, in relation to the Accommodation Works at a Site, the date set out in column (1) of the Schedule of Key Dates by which such Accommodation Works must be Complete;

“Accommodation Services” means the services described in the Accommodation Services Output Specifications;

“Accommodation Services Output Specifications” means the specifications contained in Schedule 5 (Accommodation Services) as may be amended by a Variation or otherwise in accordance with this Agreement;

“Accommodation Works” means the works listed in Schedule 3 Part 4A;

“Acquired Rights Directive” means Council Directive 77/187 EEC as amended;

“Act of Vandalism” means a wilful, deliberate or malicious act carried out by Authority staff or pupils, guests, visitors or other persons authorised by the Authority who are properly on the relevant Site which results in damage to the relevant Facility or Site or any Fixed and/or Moveable Equipment thereon;

“Actual Date of Completion” means:

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(a) in respect of the Initial Works at a Site, the date on which those Initial Works are Complete, being either the date stated in the certificate issued persuant to Clause 14.4 (Completion) or if this date is disputed in accordance with the Fast Track Resolution Procedure, the date determined under that procedure, as being the date upon which such certificates should have been issued; or

(b) in respect of any Variation Works, the date on which the Variation Works are Completed in accordance with the relevant Variation Report agreed or determined (as appropriate) pursuant to Clause 32 (Variations) and certified as such pursuant to Clause 14.4 (Completion);

“Adjudication” means the procedure set out in paragraph 3 of Schedule 12 (Dispute Resolution);

“Adjudicator” means an adjudicator appointed under paragraph 3 of Schedule 12 (Dispute Resolution);

“Affected Party” means a Party affected by the occurence of the events listed in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of the definition of Force Majeure;

“Agenda 21” means the action plan establishing a framework for law in the field of sustainable development known as “Agenda 21” adopted at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development held in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992;

“Agent” means Societété Générale of SG House, 41 Tower Hill, London, EC3N 4SG and its successors and assigns;

“Alternative Scheme” means one or more pensions scheme(s) each of which is approved or capable of approval under Chapter 1 Part XIV of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 or the trustees of such a scheme as the case may be;

“Amended Plans” has the meaning given in Clause 32.12 (Plans);

“Ancillary Documents” means:

(a) the Shareholder’s Agreement;

(b) Project Co’s memorandum of association and articles of association;

(c) the D&B Contract;

(d) the Support Services Management Agreement;

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3

(e) the Direct Agreements;

(f) the D&B Contract Performance Guarantee; and

(g) the Support Services Management Agreement Performance Guarantee;

“Annual Debt Service Cover Ratio” or “ADSCR” whilst the Initial Funding Agreements are in force shall have the meaning given to Senior Debt Service Cover Ratio in the Initial Funding Agreements and thereafter means in respect of any period for which it falls to be calculated the ratio of A:B where:

A is the aggregate of Cash Available for Debt Service for that period; and

B is the Annual Debt Service Obligations for that period;

“Annual Maintenance Programme” means the Maintenance programme agreed or determined pursuant to Clause 19.3 (Annual Maintenance Programme);

“Annual Net Third Party Profit” means Gross Third Party Revenues earned in respect of third party use during a Year less the Third Part Costs incurred in respect of third party use during that Year;

“Annual Utility Services Consumption Targets” has the meaning given in paragraph 2.1 of Part 6 (Utility Services) of Schedule 4 (Payments);

“Appeal” means all or any of the following:

(a) an appeal to the Secretary of State in accordance with Section 78 of the Planning Acts against:

(i) a conditions attached to the Full Planning Permissions or Variation Planning Approvals and/or a refusal of a planning application for Planning Approvals and/or Variation Planning Approvals; or

(ii) non-determination of a planning application for Planning Approvals and/or Variation Planning Approvals; or

(b) the reference of a planning application to the Secretary of State under Section 77 of the Planning Acts,

and the expression “to Appeal” shall be construed accordingly;

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4

“Approved Leased Equipment” means sanitary equipment, fire detection and prevention systems, telephone systems, photocopiers and vehicles;

“Arbitration” means the procedure set out in paragraph 4 of Schedule 12 (Dispute Resolution);

“Arbitrater” means an arbitrator appointed in accordance with paragraph 4 of Schedule 12 (Dispute Resolution);

“Asbestos” means any of the following minerals; crocidolite, amosite, chrysolite, fibrous actinolite, fibrous antthophyllite, fibrous tremolite and any mixture containing any of those minerals;

“Asset Register” means, with respect to each Facility, the asset register to be compiled by Project Co pursuant to Clause 22.18 (Asset Registers);

“Associated Company” means, in respect of a relevant company, a company which is a Subsidiary or a Holding Company of that relevant company or a company which is a Subsidiary of a Holding Company of that relevant company but not that relevant company itself and, in the case of Project Co, shall include each of the Consortium Members (the terms “Holding Company” and “Subsidiary” bearing the meanings defined in part XXXVI of the Companies Act 1985);

“Authority’s Confidential Information” has the meaning given in Clause 48.1 (The Authority’s Confidential Information);

“Authority’s D&B Contract Direct Agreement” means the direct agreement of the same date as this Agreement between the Authority, the D&B Contractor and Project Co;

“Authority’s Service Adviser” means the person appointed by the Authority (and notified to Project Co) to act pursuant to Clause 40 (Representatives);

“Authority’s Share” means the percentage figures in the fourth column of the table set out below corresponding to the amount of Cumulative Capital Expenditure at the relevant time, as shown in the first column of the table set out below:

Cumulative Capital Expenditure Project Co’s Share Cumulative Cost to Project Co Authority’s Share
£0 – £0.6 million 100% £600,000 0%
£0.6 – 1.2 million 75% £1,050,000 25%

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5

£1.2 – 1.8 million 50% £1,350,000 50%
£0.6 – 2.4 million 25% £1,500,000 75%
Over £2.4 million 0% £1,500,000 100%

“Authority’s Solicitors” means Rowe & Maw of 20 Black Friars Lane, London EC4V 6HD;

“Authority’s Support Services Management Direct Agreement” means the direct agreement of the same date as this Agreement between the Authority, the Support Services Manager and Project Co;

“Authority’s Works Adviser” means the person appointed by the Authority (and notified to Project Co) to act pursuant to Clause 40 (Representatives);

“Availability Deduction” has the meaning given in Part 1 (Definitions) of Schedule 4 (Payments);

“Base Case Financial Model” means the financial model as at the Effective Date setting out the basis on which the financing of the Project and the costs of and revenue from the Project have been calculated by Project Co (including the assumptions used, the cell logic network for the financial model software and any software and accompanying documentation necessary to operate the financial model) in the Agreed Form;

“Bebington” means Bebington High School;

“Bebington Asset Register” means the asset register to be compiled by Project Co pursuant to Clause 22.18 (Asset Registers);

“Bebington Headlease” means the lease between the Authority and Project Co substantially in the form set out in Part 1 (Bebington Headlease) of Schedule 1 (Land);

“Bebington Site” means the land identified in the Bebington Headlease and shown edged red on Plan B;

“Benchmarked Price” has the meaning given in paragraph 2.4 of Part 8 (Value for Money Testing) of Schedule 4 (Payments);

“Benchmarking” means subjecting a Support Service to the market price comparison procedure set out in Part 8 (Value for Money Testing) of Schedule 4 (Payments) with the aim of ensuring that the Support Service being tested is provided

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Continues at 38 more pages of the Wirral Schools Services Limited private finance initiative (PFI) contract with Wirral Council.

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Coordinating Committee meets to discuss Early Years/Childrens Centre call in for 2nd time Part 1

Coordinating Committee meets to discuss Early Years/Childrens Centre call in for 2nd time Part 1

Coordinating Committee meets to discuss Early Years/Childrens Centre call in for 2nd time

                           

Coordinating Committee 12th November 2014 Childrens Centre call in L to R Shirley Hudspeth,  Surjit Tour, Cllr Moira McLaughlin (Chair) &  Michelle
Coordinating Committee 12th November 2014 Childrens Centre call in L to R Shirley Hudspeth, Surjit Tour, Cllr Moira McLaughlin (Chair) & Michelle

Ed – 13/11/2014 Added video of first twenty-five minutes of meeting.

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Above is footage from the start of the Coordinating Committee meeting who met in Committee Room 1 at Wallasey Town Hall on the evening of 12th November 2014 (the first 25 minutes) to discuss the Early Years/Children Centres call in.

On 12th November 2014 starting at 6.00pm in a packed Committee Room 1 (standing room only for some) at Wallasey Town Hall the Coordinating Committee met to consider the call in of the Cabinet decision of 11th September 2014 (Early Years and Children’s Centres).

The Coordinating Committee had already met on the 15th October 2014 at 5.00pm for eight and half minutes to consider the same call in. That earlier meeting had decided (video of that earlier meeting is below the decision of the meeting on the 15th October 2014):

(1) the meeting stand adjourned until 6pm on Wednesday, 12 November 2014 in Committee Room 1 of Wallasey Town Hall;

(2) the Call-in Procedure be revised to enable:

(a) a witness to a called in decision, who attends the meeting, to have the option of reading out any prepared written statements to the Committee (within a timescale not to exceed five minutes); and

(b) the relevant Cabinet Member and the Lead Member to the call-in to be questioned by the Committee, once they have made their opening statements;

(3) the revised Call-in Procedure note be presented to the Committee at its reconvened meeting on 12 November 2014 for adoption.

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So, moving on to the meeting of the 12th November 2014 under the revised Call-in Procedure.

Unfortunately the revised Call-in Procedure agreed on the 15th October 2014 for the meeting on the 12th November 2014 wasn’t included in the agenda and reports published a week before the meeting on 12th November 2014.

However the meeting started with item 1 (Apologies for Absence).

1. Apologies for Absence

There was an apology for the absence of Councillor Anita Leech (Labour). Deputy Cllr Rob Gregson (Labour) was sent in her place.
There was an apology for the absence of Councillor Andrew Hodson (Conservative). Deputy Cllr Leah Fraser (Conservative) was sent in his place.
There was an apology for the absence of Councillor Wendy Clements (Conservative). Deputy Cllr Chris Blakeley (Conservative) was sent in her place.
There was an apology for the absence of Councillor Mike Hornby (Conservative). Deputy Cllr David Elderton (Conservative) was sent in his place.
There was an apology for the absence of Councillor Christina Muspratt (Labour). Deputy Cllr Irene Williams (Labour) was sent in her place.
There was an apology for the absence of Councillor Steve Williams (Conservative). Deputy Cllr Bruce Berry (Conservative) was sent in his place.

This meant the Coordinating Committee on 12th November was was:

Councillor Moira McLaughlin Chair (Labour)
Councillor Paul Doughty Vice-Chair (Labour)
Councillor Phillip Brightmore (Labour)
Councillor Rob Gregson (Labour) deputising for Councillor Anita Leech (Labour)
Councillor Irene Williams (Labour) deputising for Councillor Christina Muspratt (Labour)
Councillor Walter Smith (Labour)
Councillor Michael Sullivan (Labour)
Councillor Jerry Williams (Labour)
Councillor Janette Williamson (Labour)
Councillor Leah Fraser (Conservative) deputising for Councillor Andrew Hodson (Conservative Spokesperson)
Councillor Tom Anderson (Conservative)
Councillor Chris Blakeley (Conservative) deputising for Councillor Wendy Clements (Conservative)
Councillor David Elderton (Conservative) deputising for Councillor Mike Hornby (Conservative)
Councillor Bruce Berry (Conservative) deputising for Councillor Steve Williams (Conservative)
Councillor Phil Gilchrist (Liberal Democrat spokesperson)

Councillor Chris Blakeley asked the Chair Cllr Moira McLaughlin why Cllr Anita Leech had sent a deputy when she was present in the room the meeting was being held in? The Chair said she was in the audience and that one of the reasons that Cllr Anita Leech had absented herself from the process was because Cllr Anita Leech was on the board of one of the Children’s Centres. Cllr Moira McLaughlin explained that Cllr Anita Leech didn’t have to declare this as an interest as she had sent a deputy [Cllr Rob Gregson] in her place on the Coordinating Committee.

The meeting then moved to agenda item 2 (Code of Conduct – Declarations of Interest Relevant Authorities (Disclosable Pecuniary Interests) Regulations 2012, Including Party Whip Declarations).

Cllr Tom Anderson (Conservative) declared a personal interest as a signatory to the call in and also a director of a community centre.
Cllr Bruce Berry (Conservative) declared a personal interest as a signatory to the call in.
Cllr Leah Fraser (Conservative) asked if she had to make a personal interest as a signatory to the call in.
The Chair answered no. Cllr Leah Fraser (Conservative) declared a personal interest as a signatory to the call in.
Cllr Tony Smith (Labour Cabinet Member for Children’s Services) declared an interest as a director of a nursery.
The Chair said that Surjit Tour had told her that as Cllr Tony Smith wasn’t part of the Coordinating Committee he didn’t need to declare such interests.
The Chair asked if anyone was subject to the party whip? No one replied that they were.

The meeting proceeded to agenda item 3 (Call-in of a Delegated Decision – Minute No. 54 – Early Years and Children’s Centres).

The Chair explained that the Coordinating Committee were to re-examine a decision by the Executive [Cabinet] as it had been formally challenged by councillors through a procedure known as call in. The decision was made on 11th September and was about Early Years and Childrens Centres. The decision had asked for a 6 week public consultation and the signatories to the call in had raised four points. She asked people to introduce themselves. She introduced herself as Cllr Moira McLaughlin who was Chair of the Coordinating Committee.

Here is a list of the others who introduced themselves (* indicates member of the Coordinating Committee):

Surjit Tour (legal adviser to the Coordinating Committee, Wirral Council employee)
Shirley Hudspeth (committee services officer taking the minutes of the meeting, Wirral Council employee)
*Cllr Tom Anderson (Conservative)
*Cllr Bruce Berry (Conservative)
*Cllr Chris Blakeley (Conservative)
*Cllr Leah Fraser (Conservative spokesperson)
*Cllr David Elderton (Conservative)
*Cllr Phil Gilchrist (Lib Dem spokesperson)
*Cllr Jerry Williams (Labour)
*Cllr Irene Williams (Labour)
*Cllr Mike Sullivan (Labour)
*Cllr Phillip Brightmore (Labour)
*Cllr Rob Gregson (Labour)
*Cllr Walter Smith (Labour)
*Cllr Paul Doughty (Labour, Vice-Chair)
*Cllr Janette Williamson (Labour)
Michelle ??? (support to the committee, Wirral Council employee)

To be continued…

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The first 17 pages of Wirral Council's contract with Wirral Schools Services Limited

The first 17 pages of Wirral Council’s contract with Wirral Schools Services Limited

The first 17 pages of Wirral Council’s contract with Wirral Schools Services Limited

                           

Edited 13/11/2014 to correct “Wirral School Services Limited” to “Wirral Schools Services Limited”.

Below is the first 17 A4 pages of Wirral Council’s contract with Wirral Schools Services Limited. I requested it as part of the 2013/14 audit. Sadly it’s so long I’ll probably just have to scan the rest of it in or OCR it.

There are a further 114 pages in this section.

Private & Confidential

Dated 9th September 2004

WIRRAL BOROUGH COUNCIL (1)
WIRRAL SCHOOLS SERVICES LIMITED (2)

===================================================================================================================
DEED OF AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT relating to Wirral Schools PFI Project
===================================================================================================================

ADDLESHAW GODDARD

Contents
Clause Page

1 Interpretation ......................................... 1
2 Effective Date ......................................... 1
3 Amendment and restatement .............................. 2
4 Confirmation ........................................... 2
5 Variations, amendments and payments .................... 2
6 Release by the Authority ............................... 4
7 Release by Project Co .................................. 4
8 Governing law and dispute resolution ................... 4

Schedule

1. Conditions ............................................ 5
   Part 1 - Conditions to be satisfied by Project Co ..... 5
   Part 2 - Conditions to be satisfied by the Authority .. 6
2 Amendments to the Project Agreement .................... 7
3 Details of Variations referred to in clause 5.1 ........ 8
4 Schedule of Payments referred to in clause 5.2(b) ...... 9
5 Outstanding items ..................................... 10

2-1000834-13

This Deed of Amendment and Restatement is made on the 9th day of September 2004

Between

(1) Wirral Borough Council of Town Hall, Brighton Street, Wallasey, Wirral, Merseyside CH44 8ED (Authority); and (signature)

(2) Wirral Schools Services Limited, a company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales with registered number 4115637 whose registered office is at Frogmore Park, Walton-at-Stowe, Hertford SG14 3RU (Project Co).

Whereas

(A) The Authority has appointed Project Co under an agreement dated 27 March 2001 (Project Agreement) to finance, design and construct and to provide certain services in respect of certain schools in Wirral.

(B) The Authority and Project Co have agreed to vary the Project Agreement in the manner hereinafter appearing and to agree certain variations to the Project as hereinafter described.

It is agreed

1 Interpretation

1.1 In this Deed, but save as provided for by clause 1.2, the following expressions shall bear the following meanings:

D&B Deed of Amendment and Restatement means a deed of that name (or about) the same date as this Deed between Project Co and the D&B Contractor amending and restating the D&B Contract

Effective Date means the date upon which the parties confirm to each other in writing pursuant to clause 2.1 that the conditions set out in schedule 1 have been satisfied or waived

Revised Base Case Financial Model means the revision of the Base Case Financial Model as at the Effective Date in the Agreed Form

Subcontract Deeds of Amendment and Restatement means:

(a) the D&B Deed of Amendment and Restatement; and
(b) the Support Services Deed of Amendment and Restatement

Support Services Deed of Amendment and Restatement means a deed of that name of (or about) the same date as this Deed between Project Co and the Support Services Manager amending and restating the Support Services Management Agreement

1.2 Unless stated to the contrary in this Deed, words and phrases used in this Deed with initial capital letters but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Project Agreement.

1.3 Unless stated to the contrary, references in this Deed to any clause or schedule or appendix are references to such clause or schedule or appendix of or to this Deed.

1.4 Words importing the single number only include the plural number and vice versa.

2 Effective Date

2.1 The provisions of clauses 3, 5 (save for the acknowledgements set out in clauses 5.2(b) and 5.2(d)), 6 and 7 shall have no effect unless and until:

1

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(a) the Authority shall have confirmed in writing to Project Co that all of the conditions set out in part 1 of schedule 1 shall have been satisfied or waived; and

(b) Project Co shall have confirmed in writing to the Authority that all of the conditions set out in part 2 of schedule 1 shall have been satisfied or waived.

2.2 Each of the Authority and Project Co shall use their respective best endeavours to procure that the conditions set out in clause 2.1 are satisfied as soon as reasonably practicable following the date of this Deed, provided always that, if the Effective Date has not occurred on or before 31 August 24 September 2004, either party shall be entitled to terminate this Deed at any time thereafter upon giving written notice to the other party. (signature)

2.3 Without prejudice to any antecedent breaches of this Deed, if either party terminates this Deed pursuant to clause 2.2 then the Authority shall be entitled to recover in full from Project Co within 5 Working Days of the date of receipt of any notice served pursuant to clause 2.2 the amounts paid by the Authority to Project Co in connection with this Deed prior to the date of termination as set out in clause 5.2 and neither party shall be entitled to bring any claim against the other party as a result of such termination.

2.4 The Authority shall, within 10 Working Days after the Effective Date, deliver to Project Co a duly executed certificate issued pursuant to the Local Government (Contracts) Act 1997 in relation to this Deed.

2.5 Project Co shall procure the delivery by Liberty Mutual Insurance Company (UK) Limited, within 10 Working Days after the Effective Date, of written confirmation of its consent to the D&B Deed of Amendment and Restatement and that the D&B Performance Bond and Retention Bond (in each case, as defined in the D&B Contract) remain effective.

3 Amendment and restatement

With effect from the Effective Date the Project Agreement shall be amended and restated so as to give effect to the amendments set out in schedule 2. The parties agree that the amendments to the Project Agreement and Schedules set out in schedule 2 constitute the only pages of the Project Agreement and Schedules where changes to the text have been agreed between the parties.

4 Confirmation

The parties confirm that the Project Agreement remains in full force and effect save as amended by this Deed.

5 Variations, amendments and payments

5.1 The parties agree that:

(a) as a result of the matters contained in or referred to in this Deed, namely the carrying out of works by Project Co (whether before or after the Effective Date):

(i) required to be undertaken for the removal of Asbestos at the Facilities within the period prior to the last Actual Date of Completion to occur; and

(ii) as a result of Variations instructed and/or requested in writing by the Authority pursuant to Clause 32 of the Project Agreement up to and including 7 June 2004,

the Design and Build Periods in respect of the Sites have been extended as set out in Part 3 of Schedule 3 to the Project Agreement (as amended and restated in accordance with this Deed); and

(b) without prejudice to the Authority’s entitlement to request Variations pursuant to the Project Agreement, Project Co shall carry out such variations to the Works as are nominated by the Authority in its discretion up to (but not exceeding) the value of

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£115,000 (unindexed) which variations Project Co shall carry out and complete at no cost to the Authority; and

(c) Project Co shall shall carry out and complete the Variations set out in schedule 3 to this Deed by the respective dates set out against each such Variation in schedule 3 (and, to avoid doubt, such Variations shall be carried out and completed at no additional cost to the Authority),

provided always that:

(i) the Authority shall be fully responsible for any planning or judicial review risk associated with the carrying out of any Variation referred to in this clause 5.1(c); and

(ii) the Authority shall be entitled to deduct liquidated and ascertained damages (LADs) from the Services Contract Payment at a rate of £55 per Variation for each day in excess of the relevant Completion Date for which any Variation as referred to in this clause 5.1(c) is not complete.

5.2

(a) The parties acknowledge and agree that there is a difference between the Services Contract Payment set out in Part 4 of Schedule 5 to the Project Agreement and the Services Contract Payment set out in the Base Case Financial Model. In order to rectify this difference and by way of full and final settlement of the costs and expenses incurred or to be incurred by Project Co as a result of the implementation of variation works including the change in building design at Leasowe Primary and the implementation (whether before or after the Effective Date) of works to deal with Asbestos discovered in the Facilities within the period prior to the last Actual Date of Completion to occur (in accordance with Clause 16.4 of and Schedule 15 to the Project Agreement), the Authority has agreed to:

(i) change the Expiry Date to 31 July 2031 in order to enable Project Co to raise additional finance (provided always that the amount of principal taken into account in calculating Senior Debt (as shown in the Revised Base Case Financial Model) shall not increase by more than £3,000,000.00, compared with the amount of principal shown for the same date in the Base Case Financial Model, by reason of the raising of such additional finance); and

(ii) pay to Project Co the sum of £3,340,000.00, such sum to be paid in accordance with the remainder of this clause 5.2.

(b) The parties acknowledge that, of the sum referred to in clause 5.2(a)(ii), the sum of £1,800,000.00 has been paid by the Authority to Project Co (and Project Co acknowledges that it has received such amount from the Authority). The remaining sum of £1,540,000.00 shall be due and payable by the Authority to Project Co in the sums and on the dates set out in schedule 4.

(c) Project Co shall submit a valid VAT invoice to the Authority in respect of each of the amounts referred to in clause 5.2(b).

(d) Project Co acknowledges that it has received a payment of £1,186,618.10 (inclusive of VAT) from the Authority in relation to certain costs incurred by Project Co in removing Asbestos. The parties agree that a further sum of £35,000 (which represents the VAT element outstanding on a £200,000 payment on account made by the Authority) remains to be paid by the Authority to Project Co and that the Authority shall pay such amount to Project Co within 30 days of receipt of a valid VAT invoice in respect of the same.

(e) The parties agree to procure that Schedule 4 to the Project Agreement shall, not later than the last Actual Date of Completion to occur, be revised to reflect any changes to the drawings or accommodation schedules as may be necessary, whether arising

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pursuant to this Deed or otherwise, but provided always that any such revision shall not result in any increase to the Services Contract Payment as set out in the Base Case Financial Model.

(f) and (g) – please see continuation sheet overleaf (signature)

Outstanding items

5.3 In consideration of receipt of the amounts referred to in clause 5.2, Project Co shall carry out and complete the works set out in schedule 5 (“Outstanding Items“) and, to avoid doubt, Project Co shall not be entitled to any additional payment in respect of such works.

6 Release by the Authority

6.1 On and with effect from the Effective Date:

(a) the Authority irrevocably waives and releases to Project Co any claim or Losses it may have or which may have arisen consequent upon any breach or alleged breach of any obligation of Project Co contained in the Project Agreement arising prior to the Effective Date in connection with the matters referred to in clause 5.1(a) including without limitation in relation to the issue of any Non-Completion Certificate; and

(b) the Authority irrevocably and unconditionally provides its consent, insofar as such consent may be necessary or required to be given under the Project Agreement, to any matters contained in or referred to in this Deed.

7 Release by Project Co

7.1 On and with effect from the Effective Date Project Co irrevocably waives and releases to the Authority any claim or Losses it may have or which may have arisen consequent upon any breach or alleged breach of any obligation of the Authority contained in the Project Agreement arising prior to the Effective Date in connection with the matters referred to in clause 5.1(a) including without limitation to the issue of any Non-Completion Certificate. Without prejudice to the foregoing, Project Co acknowledges that:

(a) the amendment to the Expiry Date referred to in clause 5.2(a)(i);

(b) the payment of the financial amounts shown in clause 5.2; and

(c) the amendments made to the Schedule of Key Dates referred to in clause 5.1(a),

shall constitute Project Co’s sole compensation in respect of the matters contained within this Deed, including without limitation any claim against the Authority under Clause 16.4 of the Project Agreement or otherwise for costs, expenses, losses, prolongation or disruption expenses or loss of profit arising from any works (whether such works are carried out before or after the Effective Date) required to deal with Asbestos discovered at the Facilities within the period prior to the last Actual Date of Completion to occur.

8 Governing law and dispute resolution

8.1 The law of this Deed is English law.

8.2 Any dispute arising out of or in connection with this Deed shall be resolved in accordance with the procedure set out in Clause 49 (Dispute Resolution Procedure) of the Project Agreement. Subject as aforesaid, the parties agree that the courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction to hear and settle any action, suit, proceeding or dispute in connection with this Deed and irrevocably submit to the jurisdiction of those courts.

In Witness the parties have caused this Deed to be duly executed on the date set out above.

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(f) The parties acknowledge that the extension to the Contract Term hereby agreed (the “Contract Extension“) will enable Project co to raise additional funding to facilitate Project Co’s performance of its obligations under the Project Agreement and this Deed, and the Authority agrees that on the occasion of the first financing of the Contract Extension (whether or not the Contract Extension is financed for the first time as part of a Refinancing (as that term is defined in clause 4.1 of the Project Agreement) or otherwise) all sums thereby raised up to (but not exceeding) the sum of three million pounds (£3,000,000.00) and arising solely out of the Contract Extension shall accrue solely to Project Co provided that (for the avoidance of doubt) that parties hereto agree that on any Refinancing (as that term is defined in clause 4.1 of the Project Agreement) taking place after the first financing of the Contract Extension as aforesaid the provisions of clause 4.1 of and Schedule 2 Part 8 (Rules for Refinancing) to the Project Agreement shall apply in full to the Contract Term as hereby extended.

(g) For the purposes of clause 4.1 of the Project Agreement, the Authority hereby grants its consent to the first financing of the Contract Extension (but not further or otherwise). (signature)

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Schedule 1
Conditions
Part 1 – Conditions to be satisfied by Project Co

Delivery by Project Co to the Authority of the documents listed below in form and substance satisfactory to the Authority. Where listed as a duly certified copy, the document must be certified by a director or the secretary of Project Co as being a true copy:

1. A copy, duly certified, of minutes of a meeting of the board of directors of Project Co evidencing:

(a) consideration by the directors of:

(i) a final draft of this Deed and the Subcontract Deeds of Amendment and Restatement;

(ii) Project Co’s rights and obligations under this Deed and the Subcontract Deeds of Amendment and Restatement; and

(iii) any limit or restriction on any of Project Co’s powers or any limit or restriction on the rights or ability of the directors to exercise any of Project Co’s powers; and

(b) a resolution of the board of directors approving the execution, delivery and performance by Project Co of this Deed and the Subcontract Deeds of Amendment and Restatement and authorising a specific person or persons to execute and deliver this Deed and the Subcontract Deeds of Amendment and Restatement and sign and despatch all notices and other communications required or permitted to be given by Project Co under this Deed and the Subcontract Deeds of Amendment and Restatement.

2. A specimen of the signature of each person authorised by Project Co to execute this Deed and the Subcontract Deeds of Amendment and Restatement and to sign and despatch all notices and other communications required or permitted to be given by Project Co thereunder.

3. A copy, duly certified, of each of this Deed and the Subcontract Deeds of Amendment and Restatement.

4. The Revised Base Case Financial Model.

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Part 2 – Conditions to be satisfied by the Authority

Delivery by the Authority to Project Co of the documents listed below all in form and substance satisfactory to Project Co:

1. Copies of such (if any) of the Direct Agreements as may be required by the Lenders to be executed by the Authority, executed by the Authority (but not, for the avoidance of doubt, the other parties to the Direct Agreements); and

2. Certified copies of the appropriate minute of the Authority which evidences the delegated authority of the officer signing this Deed.

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Schedule 2
Amendments to the Project Agreement

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CONFORMED COPY

DATED       27 March 2001

(1) WIRRAL BOROUGH COUNCIL

(2) WIRRAL SCHO OLSSCHOOLS SERVICES LIMITED

(signature)

===================================================================================================================

PROJECT AGREEMENT

Amended and Restated pursuant to a Deed of Amendment and Restatement dated 9th September 2004

===================================================================================================================

ROWE & MAW
20 Black Friars Lane
London EC4V 6HD

Tel: 020 7248 4282
Fax: 020 7248 2009

Ref: 617/343/476/27909.1

CONTENTS

CLAUSE SUBJECT MATTER PAGE

1. Definitions and Interpretation 2
2. Conditions Precedent 4344
3. Ancillary Documents 4647
4. Funding Arrangements, Direct Agreements, Guarantees and Prohibition on Diversification 4748
5. Term 5051
6. Planning 5051
7. Works 5657
8. Project Programme and Extensions of Time 5961
9. Design Development 6264
10. Standards of Design and Workmanship 6364
11. D & B Contract 6365
12. Decant Programme 6465
13. Care of the Sites and Reinstatement 6466
14. Inspection and Completion 6567
15. CDM Regulations 6870
16. Defects 6971
17. Fossils and Antiquities 7072
18. Services and Phase-in 7274
19. Maintenance 7678
20. Utility Services and Catering 8284
21. Value for Money Testing and Best Value 8587
22. Equipment and Materials 8789
23. Payments to Project Co 9395
24. Performance Regime 98100
25. Provisions Relating to Land 101103
26. Authority Access 103105
27. Site Licences and Leases 104106
28. Obligations of Project Co in Respect of the Sites and the Authority’s Obligations in Respect of Land 107109
29. Rates, Taxes and Outgoings 109111
30. Quality Assurance 110112
31. Reports and Records 112114
32. Variations 117119
33. Change in Law 130132
34. Indemnity and Liability Limitation 132134
35. Environmental Liability 138140
36. Insurance 139141
37. Events of Default and Termination 146148
38. Compensation on Termination 151153
39. Consequential Arrangements on Termination 155157
40. Representatives 159161
41. Sub-Contracting 161163

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42. Assignment 162164
43. Change of Control 163165
44. Force Majeure 164166
45. Warranties and Disclaimers 166168
46. Employees 161171
47. Intellectual Property and Data 179181
48. Confidentiality and Publicity 181183
49. Disputes 185187
50. Agency 185187
51. Personal Data 186188
52. Corrupt Gifts and Payments of Compensation 188190
53. Health and Safety, Site Rules and Occupiers Liability 190192
54. Miscellaneous 192194
55. Governing Law and Jurisdiction 196198

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INDEX OF SCHEDULES

SCHEDULE HEADING
SCHEDULE 1 LAND
Part 1 Bebington Headlease
Part 2 Hilbre Headlease
Part 3 Park High Headlease
Part 4 Prenton High Headlease
Part 5 South Wirral High Headlease
Part 6 Wallasey Headlease
Part 7 Not used
Part 8 Weatherhead Headlease
Part 9 Wirral Girls Headlease
Part 10 Bebington Underlease
Part 11 Hilbre Underlease
Part 12 Park High Underlease
Part 13 Prenton High Underlease
Part 14 South Wirral High Underlease
Part 15 Wallasey Underlease
Part 16 Not used
Part 17 Weatherhead Underlease
Part 18 Wirral Girls Underlease
Part 19 Plans

SCHEDULE 2 FINANCIAL MATTERS
Part 1 Lenders’ Direct Agreement
Part 2 The Council’s Design and Building Contract Direct Agreement
Part 3 The Council’s Support Services Management Direct Agreement
Part 4 Design and Building Contract Performance Guarantee
Part 5 Support Services Management Agreement Performance Guarantee
Part 6 Initial Senior Funding Agreements
Part 7 Other Initial Funding Agreements
Part 8 Rules for Refinancing

SCHEDULE 3 WORKS

Part 1 Design Development Procedure
Part 2 Prohibited Materials

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Part 3 Schedule of Key Dates
Part 4 Outline Design Documents
Part 5 The Completion Standards
Part 6 Decant Programme Methodology
Appendix 1 Decant Programme: Park High
Appendix 2 Decant: Further Obligations
Part 7 Handback Requirements
Part 8 Project Programme
Part 9 Construction Site Rules
Part 10 Handback Survey
SCHEDULE 4 PAYMENTS
Part 1 Definitions
Part 2 Services Contract Payment
Part 3 Performance Deduction Look-up Table
Part 4 Table of Service Units per School
Part 5 Monitoring
Part 6 Utility Services
Part 7 Third Part Use
Part 7A Catering
Part 8 Value for Money Testing
Appendix 1 Form of Performance and Payment Report
SCHEDULE 5 ACCOMMODATION SERVICES OUTPUT SPECIFICATION
SCHEDULE 6 SUPPORT SERVICES OUTPUT SPECIFICATION
Part 1 Building and Asset Maintenance Output Specification
Part 2 Support Service Requirements and Performance Tables
Part 3 Service Level Agreements
Part 4 Service Level Agreements Alteration Procedure
SCHEDULE 7 REPORTS AND RECORDS
Part 1 Reports
Part 2 Records
SCHEDULE 8 VARIATION
Variation Notice
SCHEDULE 9 INSURANCE
Part 1 The Part I Insurance Period

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Part 2 The Part 2 Insurance Period
Appendix 1 Endorsements
Appendix 2 Broker’s Letter of Undertaking
Appendix 3 Business Interruption Insurance – the Authority’s Obligations as Insurer
Appendix 4 Schedule of Insured Parties
SCHEDULE 10 LIAISON COMMITTEE
SCHEDULE 11 COMPENSATION ON TERMINATION
Part 1 Definitions
Part 2 Project Co Default
Part 3 Authority Default
Part 4 Notice by the Authority
Part 5 Force Majeure, Uninsurability and Planning Challenge
Part 6 Corrupt Gifts
SCHEDULE 12 DISPUTE RESOLUTION
SCHEDULE 13 SENIOR REPRESENTATIVES
SCHEDULE 14 COMPENSATION EVENTS
SCHEDULE 15 METHODOLOGY FOR ASBESTOS
Appendix 1 MB Wirral Policy
Appendix 2 Asbestos Survey Risk Assessment
SCHEDULE 16 LIQUIDATED DAMAGES
SCHEDULE 17 QUALITY SYSTEMS
Part 1 Design and Build Period Quality System
Part 2 Operational Period Quality System
Appendix A Quality Policy
Appendix B Certificate of Approval
Appendix C Proposed QA Implementation Plan
Appendix D Contact Directory
Appendix E Local Procedures
SCHEDULE 18 EMPLOYEES
Part 1 Employee Information
Part 2 Terms and Conditions of Employment
SCHEDULE 19 ADMISSION AGREEMENTS AND BONDS
Part 1 Jarvis Workspace FM Limited
Part 2 Compass Group PLC

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Part 3 MTL Commercial Limited
SCHEDULE 20 STAFF SECURITY PROTOCOL
SCHEDULE 21 OPERATIONAL SITE RULES
SCHEDULE 22 DRAFT TRANSITIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT
SCHEDULE 23 CITY LEARNING CENTRE
SCHEDULE 24 NEW MOVEABLE EQUIPMENT SCHEDULE OF RATES

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Continues at 6 more pages of the Wirral Schools Services Limited contract with Wirral Council.

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