Topic: No Buyers For New Croft-Type Schools

[Muggins]

Just reading back on stuff...

Wasn't Even Swindon supposed to have a 1Fe extension?

Wasn't Class Solutions proposed?

Seem to recall that Cllr Moffat asked for a proper building on site... in a Scrutiny meeting if I recall correctly?

Does anyone know what's being built and who is the builder?

Because if it is Class Solutions it should be straightforward to check the costs and the build time ?

Surely....

Sorry JennyB  I was looking at this, didn't notice the date kindly disregard my out of date remarks.

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[jennyb]

http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/11115206.Timetable_for_Tadpole_Farm_school_takes_shape/

Quite how a school can be so desperately needed when there are so many officers remunerated to satisfy the statutory need to plan for and provide school places is plain ridiculous.

Putting that aside for the moment...

http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/11115206.Timetable_for_Tadpole_Farm_school_takes_shape/

Having looked at the planning application for this ( whenever it is built) it is not Class Solutions.

Has this flagship design sunk without further trace?

Has anyone, anywhere shown an interest?

Lessons learned?

Kareen

http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/11118619.Free_college_ready_to_cater_for_teenagers/

Another day and another story about North Swindon School provision.

Dear God .. who is planning this stuff?

2016 Free school will have primary provision... 420 ..then 840 pupils?

Today... no need for primary provision?

Kareen

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[Alex]

So now I understand that  SBC are considering selling off the entire playing field too.

From one of the stalwarts of Swindon's Arts scene today I see " We need to spread the word about the Council's proposed disposal of Croft Playing Field. There was a public meeting last night attended by around 100 people, many of whom were surprised to learn that after 3 years of being transferred to a new operator, a change of use could be applied for, with 50% of the profit going to the Council. Come along to the Council Meeting in Euclid Street tonight at 7pm to hear answers to questions raised by concerned Swindonians."

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[jennyb]

So now I understand that  SBC are considering selling off the entire playing field too.

From one of the stalwarts of Swindon's Arts scene today I see " We need to spread the word about the Council's proposed disposal of Croft Playing Field. There was a public meeting last night attended by around 100 people, many of whom were surprised to learn that after 3 years of being transferred to a new operator, a change of use could be applied for, with 50% of the profit going to the Council. Come along to the Council Meeting in Euclid Street tonight at 7pm to hear answers to questions raised by concerned Swindonians."

It didn't take the meeting attendees long last night to figure out what the implications of the council's plans were. And they didn't like it.

And a packed public gallery at the council meeting tonight said NO TO A CROFT LEASE.

And a packed public gallery said WE KNOW WHAT YOU DID WTH THE CROFT SCHOOL.

And the Council plan to decide on the increasing shambolic leisure proposal in June 2014?

Still basing it on the wonderful 99 year Oasis Lease?

The one where planning applications are behind schedule and have yet to be submitted?

Where the lease has already been changed in a bank's favour?

Where concerns are already in the public domain about the financial stability of the set up?

Where it is reasonable to ask what due diligence was done?

These are public assets managed by the council at the behest of the public. Wouldn't be a bad thing for the council to remind themselves of this. 

Kareen 

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[Outoftowner]

Some news of one of the designers of the Class Solutions pop- up shed project.

Tony Currivan, known as a

practicing architect and cosmic geomancer with extensive experience of environmental and sustainable building design and also someone who embodies the energetic principles of cosmic geomancy into his healthy and harmonious building designs

has suffered something of a set back.

The simplicity and economic popularity of the pre-frabricated school design, which in fact was not prefabricated, doesn’t seem to have done his company Geomantic Design Ltd any good, as it was dissolved on March 13th 2014.

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[Richard Symonds]

The simplicity and economic popularity of the pre-frabricated school design, which in fact was not prefabricated, doesn’t seem to have done his company Geomantic Design Ltd any good, as it was dissolved on March 13th 2014.

It is a mystery to me why our beloved Council gets so hung up with dealing with such people.

Wi-fi
Class Solutions and now
Leisure in the form of Moirai

What do they all have in common? 

Could it possibly be less than suitable partners?

and the full effect of the Oasis debacle has yet to manifest itself, but why do we attract such people in the first place?

Surely egos have nothing to do with it do they?

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[the gorgon]

Yet when there is something successful in Swindon that has fallen on hard times, like the Mela, SBC don't want to know.

A Swindon Borough council spokesman added: "The council's responsibility is to make sure the event is safe, but the Mela is not a council event and all financial issues are a matter for the organisers."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-27761597

Perhaps they should call it the Wireless Prefabricated Oasis Mela Dome then SBC would surely throw thousands at it.

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[oldtowner]

It is a mystery to me why our beloved Council gets so hung up with dealing with such people.

Wi-fi
Class Solutions and now
Leisure in the form of Moirai

What do they all have in common? 

 

Richard don’t you think that what they have in common is that they recognise the incompetence and lack of business acumen in this Administration?

Don’t you think they see it as a soft touch that they can run rings round e.g. change of lease at the Oasis, the failing to heed credit worthiness signs of participants in the Wi-fi debacle and yet toss more taxpayers money at a worthless cause.and according to the sales pitch for the forthcoming  leisure lottery a £2 million handout  aka reverse premium to get things rolling?

Would anyone be surprised to see the monorail salesman from the Simpsons rock into town and sucker this Administration yet again??

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[Richard Symonds]

Oldtowner Yes Yes and Yes

But what will make this lot draw breath and really consider the outcome of their actions?

Surcharging Dame Shirley Porter style?

With the threat of surcharging they would have never lent Hunt the second tranche of £250,000 had they been accountable for their actions, would they?

You have to ask why the indecent haste?

and what would it take for them to stop and think NOW?

Des Moffatt reads this site, come on Des what are Labour doing about it, you kinda had a go on Friday what are you doing next?

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[Mart]

I see this differently.

Imagine, if you will, that you are a thrusting entrepreneur, you have an idea that could earn you millions in the private sector. Your entrepreneurship is tempered with a philanthropic bent (still legal, I think) so, instead of earning squillions and shoving down your throat, hoovering it up your hooter and exchanging bodily fluids with ladies of negotiable affections in implausibly lavish residences around the world you come over all public sector and selfless.

What are you to do? You need to find someone in the public sector with vision, passion, another vision and a sense of vibrancy. Enter SBC, I imagine there was sunbeams shearing through the clouds, heavenly portents and a 'sign' or two at this divine meeting of an idea and a body with the means to deliver that idea to the masses.

You then embark on delivering the now shared vision, you of course claim nothing but expenses and because you are on a morally charged mission you do not trouble yourself with such ephemera as 'bills', however you have not factored in SBC's rapacious appetite for cash. This appetite is spurred on by SBC's desire to freeze council tax for the 97th consecutive year and it's determination to deliver this gift to it's huddled masses.

Anyway, 6 months later you are skint and universally reviled throughout the borough through no fault of your own, your only mistake being to underestimate SBC's consuming desire to deliver maximum services at minimum cost.

Swindon, the town where business comes to fold.

Alternatively I am naive and it is simply a case of chancers who can hardly believe their luck at finding there is in fact a market for magic beans.

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[Richard Symonds]

Swindon, the town where business comes to fold.

Alternatively I am naive and it is simply a case of chancers who can hardly believe their luck at finding there is in fact a market for magic beans.

Mart as incisive as ever!!

They will be queuing up down the M4 as Swindon Borough Council are 'Nice People to do Business with' - with apologies to Currie Motors!

It is a notable shame there wasn't the same queue to invest in Digital City, but then there was nothing to be gained from that was there?

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[Outoftowner]

Wi-fi
Class Solutions and now
Leisure in the form of Moirai

What do they all have in common? 

Let us not forget the attempt to sell off the housing stock for a fraction of its true worth! That little project had many similarities to the Oasis charade.

In fact some would say the same, "modus operandi"! 

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[Richard Symonds]

Thank you Outoftowner I had forgotten about the 'big sell off' @ £4,000 a property!!

Fortunately for the rest of us the tenants saw through that little scam and would not play ball!

Maybe they should be invited to look at Leisure as well, as they seem to know what is good for them and for us, of course!!

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[Spunkymonkey]

Some news of one of the designers of the Class Solutions pop- up shed project.

Tony Currivan, known as a

practicing architect and cosmic geomancer with extensive experience of environmental and sustainable building design and also someone who embodies the energetic principles of cosmic geomancy into his healthy and harmonious building designs

has suffered something of a set back.

The simplicity and economic popularity of the pre-frabricated school design, which in fact was not prefabricated, doesn’t seem to have done his company Geomantic Design Ltd any good, as it was dissolved on March 13th 2014.

I know Tony Currivan and have always found him to be a very pleasant and genuine guy.

He isn't a chancer or a con man. Tony has been employed by SBC for at least 10 years - possibly on an agency contract (ie. self employed). The borough's architect, Nic Newland and Tony Currivan were jointly involved in the design of the Central Library, Class Solutions and several other projects.

Unlike Digital City, the borough have something tangible in return for his fees.

If his company was dissolved it doesn't mean that it failed or he was acting dishonestly. Tarring him with same brush as Moirai and Digital City seems a bit harsh.

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[Terry Reynolds]

I wonder if anybody else noticed the public notice on Tuesday in the adver, with reference to a replacement facilities contract.
Contractors were asked to tender for a design and build contract using SBC class solutions school's design for a replace building to provide better facilities at the site.
So the class solutions design is not dead then and there will be more....

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[oldtowner]

I wonder if anybody else noticed the public notice on Tuesday in the adver, with reference to a replacement facilities contract.
Contractors were asked to tender for a design and build contract using SBC class solutions school's design for a replace building to provide better facilities at the site.
So the class solutions design is not dead then and there will be more....

Or it could be that the council had committed to buy multiple buildings? Wasn't a key selling point that they could build 3 schools for the price of 2? If no one else is interested then they have to do something with all those sheds.

Thought that the lead member for schools and now leader said only SCS could build Class Solutions so what's changed?

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[Spunkymonkey]

The photo of the new Tadpole school in today's adver looks like a Class Solutions design.

http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/14260941.More_than_a_dozen_schools_needed_to_cope_with_new_housing_developments_in_Swindon_Borough/

Did SCS build it?

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[Muggins]

Maybe can see some sense in modular style school buildings, as they don't seem to be adhering to  strategic plans, with pockets of development appearing hither and thither - instead of finishing of one larger area before starting another. 

I appreciate that it was not what was best for Croft, where it was placed in the middle of a already built up area, it could work better in a new development where expectation are not high, or even given much consideration by those excitedly moving in to new housing and busy with paying the mortgage and managing a family. 

Relatively small numbers would be expected at  first and as more housing is built they can add classrooms.

Of course not the best solution, because surely the build wouldn't be much better than the 60's Pratten hut in c0nstruction, even if they looked smarter.

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