Key information
Decision type: Assistant Director
Reference code: ADD2090
Date signed:
Executive summary
The London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) is seeking consent to give a grant of £200,000 to the London Borough of Hackney. The grant is for redesigning and constructing road and footway outside Mossbourne Riverside Academy on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park – part of and an addition to a package of support to the LB Hackney to deliver the new school (consents were previously granted under cover of Assistant Director Decisions 266 and 337)
Sections 209 (1) and 213 of the Localism Act 2011 require the Mayor give consent to LLDC in order for it to provide financial assistance. The LLDC Governance Direction (approved by Mayoral Decision 1277), in turn, allows for an Assistant Director of the GLA to provide that consent under delegated authority from and on behalf of the Mayor.
Decision
That the Head of Finance and Governance approves the giving of consent to LLDC to provide a grant of £200,000 to the London Borough of Hackney for redesigning and constructing road and footway outside Mossbourne Riverside Academy.
Part 1: Non-confidential facts and advice
1.1. The Mayor consented in February 2015 (via ADD266) to LLDC grant funding the London Borough of Hackney up to £4.55m towards the costs of a new primary school at East Wick. Consent was also given for LLDC to enter into a 125 year lease on the new building and into indemnity agreements.
1.2. Subsequently and under ADD337, consent was given to LLDC to provide additional financial assistance of just over £1m to LB Hackney to cover increases in project costs (making a total contribution of £5.6m) and to underwrite certain other costs up to the financial close of the project.
1.3. Construction was completed in August 2016 and the school opened its doors to its first pupils in September 2016.
1.4. One element of the construction package was the road and footway outside of the school. The design of the scheme was considered by LLDC’s Quality Review Panel (QRP) as part of its review of the zonal masterplan for LLDC’s East Wick and Sweetwater housing development, opposite the school. As a result, QRP asked that further design work be undertaken on the scheme, including to give priority to pedestrians and ensure the road and footway integrated better with the housing development.
1.5. LLDC is therefore seeking consent to provide an additional £200,000 of grant funding, through an amendment to the existing grant agreement, to LB Hackney to cover the cost of redesigning and constructing the remodelled road scheme.
1.6. Sections 209 (1) and 213 of the Localism Act 2011 allow LLDC to provide financial assistance to any person or organisation – but only with the consent of the Mayor. The LLDC Governance Direction (approved by MD1277), in turn, allows for an Assistant Director of the GLA to provide that consent under delegated authority from and on behalf of the Mayor.
2.1. The objectives of the grant, lease and indemnity agreements approved by ADD266 and ADD337 were for the successful construction of Mossbourne Riverside Academy to the highest design quality – and so as to fulfil LLDC’s Section 106 obligation. This obligation was met when the schools successfully opened in September 2016.
2.2. The objective of this further provision of grant funding is to discharge and close LLDC’s legal and financial obligations to the London Borough of Hackney – to cover all costs for the project up to the agreed limit of £13.4m.
3.1. An Equality Statement was submitted as part of the planning application for the original Park-wide masterplan, called the Legacy Communities Scheme (LCS). This statement summarised the detailed consultation with equality groups in the run up to the 2012 Games. The equality analysis on whether and where to locate the school, for example, has been taken account of.
3.2. In addition to this, and in direct response to the planning requirements, LLDC presented the school project to its Built Environment Access Panel of older and disabled people in October 2014. The BEAP’s comments were incorporated into the Design and Access Statement for the school’s detailed planning application. Some significant changes were incorporated into the design to ensure the school was more inclusive and accessible.
3.3. Any issues pertaining to the operation of the school are the responsibility of Mossbourne Academy Trust, the operators of the school. LLDC has, however, worked with them to ensure significant decisions, such as the admissions policy are appropriate for the local area.
3.4. The early delivery of the Mossbourne Primary Academy School meets demand created by residential developments within the LCS – and is important in creating neighbourhoods that families want to live and grow in.
3.5. The redesigned roadway and footpaths allow for better access for all pedestrians.
a) key risks and issues
4.1 The risks identified in ADD337 and ADD266 on budget, funding, planning and delivery no longer exist as construction is complete. There is no risk of further expenditure.
4.2 The risk associated with a decision not to approve the required expenditure would be legal action from LB Hackney for breach by LLDC of its funding and indemnity agreement commitments to cover all costs associated with the project, up to the £13.4m cap.
b) links to Mayoral strategies and priorities
4.3 Consent will discharge a legal commitment.
c) impact assessments and consultations.
4.4 No further impact assessment or consultation is required in respect of this specific decision.
5.1 LLDC holds contingency budget to fund the additional £200,000 cost of this decision and there is no consequential impact on funding from the GLA.
6.1 No particular legal implications arise from the proposal.
Signed decision document
ADD2090 LLDC grant Hackney road scheme (signed) PDF