PPP - Frequently Asked Questions

• Q1 Who are IPP (Moray Schools) Ltd?
• Q2 When will work start?
• Q3 Who will build the schools?
• Q4 When will the schools be finished?
• Q5 Will the schools be affected by the building work?
• Q6 As a neighbour living close to one of the schools, I am concerned about the noise, dust, mud, parking by construction staff, work being undertaken either early in the morning, late into the evening or at weekends. How can I be reassured that I will not have to endure over a year of disruption?
• Q7 How are the schools being paid for?
• Q8 Who will look after the schools?
• Q9 Will the furniture in the schools be new?
• Q10 Will we as parents, teachers, pupils or local residents be kept informed?
• Q11 Will the facilities be available to the public and what will this cost?
• Q12 What happens to the junior primary school building at Keith?
• Q13 At Elgin, people have been able to walk through the school grounds to get to the town from Morriston Road. Will they still be able to do this?

Q1) Who are IPP (Moray Schools) Ltd?

A) The Council has signed a Contract with IPP (Moray Schools) Ltd to design, build, finance and maintain the two schools for a 30 year period. IPP (Moray Schools) Ltd is a consortium that comprises International Public Partnerships, an international investor in PPP infrastructure projects which is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is managed and advised by Amber Infrastructure Limited; Stewart Milne Group from Aberdeen, who will design and build the schools; and FES FM Ltd from Stirling, who will be responsible for the facilities management and maintenance for the completed schools for the 30 year contract period. The design team, led by Richard Blair, comprises Aedas Architects from Glasgow, supported by WA Fairhurst (civil and structural engineers); Environmental Services Design Ltd (mechanical and electrical engineers); Project FF&E Ltd (providers of furniture and equipment for the schools) and Alex Napier as Educational Adviser. IPP (Moray Schools) Ltd has been advised by McClure Naismith LLP (Legal Advisers). They have obtained planning consent for the schools.

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Q2) When will work start?

A) The Contract was signed on 22 June 2010. Work commenced at Elgin on 22 June 2010 and at Keith on 5 July 2010.

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Q3) Who will build the schools?

A) The schools are being built by the Stewart Milne Group from Aberdeen. The Group has considerable experience in building schools and recently completed the new International School in Aberdeen. Their experience has been further enhanced through the acquisition of A & L King of Auchterarder, who were construction contractors on Stirling Schools PPP contract and Falkirk Schools PPP2.

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Q4) When will the schools be finished?

A) Elgin Academy is due to open at the end of February 2012, and the existing school will then be demolished and landscaping completed. All work should be completed by December 2012 and the upgraded grass pitches will be ready for play in December 2013.

Keith Primary School is due to open at the end of October 2011. All of the work on site should be completed by December 2011 and the upgraded grass pitches (at Keith Grammar School) will be ready for play in October 2012.

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Q5) Will the schools be affected by the building work?

A) Yes, although every effort will be made to minimise disruption for pupils and staff. Detailed phasing plans have been made for the construction work to separate the areas available to the contractor and the schools at different stages of the construction work.

At Elgin Academy, the new school is being built within a secure fenced area, then the school will transfer to the new building and the existing building will be demolished, and the playing fields, grounds and remaining car parking will be completed.

At Keith, the school has been transferred into part temporary accommodation so that the existing senior primary building could be taken down at the outset to make way for the new building. When the new school is completed, pupils and teachers will transfer to the new building and the temporary classrooms will be removed.

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Q6) As a neighbour living close to one of the schools, I am concerned about the noise, dust, mud, parking by construction staff, work being undertaken either early in the morning, late into the evening or at weekends. How can I be reassured that I will not have to endure over a year of disruption?

A) Stewart Milne have assured us that whilst there is bound to be a degree of disruption, this will be kept to a minimum. Construction operations that are noisy will be undertaken with consideration. In dry weather, they will reduce dust by selective damping of the site and in wet weather; they will ensure that the roads around the site are regularly swept by mechanical road sweeper. They have provided dedicated parking for construction staff within the site and workers are instructed not to park in such a way as to cause obstruction or nuisance to neighbouring properties. While the Council has placed no restriction on the hours to be worked on site, Stewart Milne has set normal working hours as 7am till 7pm Monday to Friday, and 8am to 1pm on Saturdays. They may need to work outwith these times in order to maintain progress on construction in accordance with the agreed programme.

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Q7) How are the schools being paid for?

A) The schools are being built by IPP (Moray Schools) Ltd using their own money and money they have borrowed from their lender. The Council starts paying for the schools when they are built (not before) and pays a monthly charge until the end of the 30 year contract period. IPP (Moray Schools) Ltd is a non-profit distributing company.

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Q8) Who will look after the schools?

A) IPP (Moray Schools) Ltd’s subcontractor FES FM Ltd is responsible for the security, cleaning, and maintenance and repair of the building for the contract period. The monthly charge also covers the cost of this. At the end of the contract period, the Council will take over responsibility for the building in the same way as other schools in Moray.

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Q9) Will the furniture in the schools be new?

A) The vast majority of furniture and equipment will be new, however there will be a small quantity of furniture and equipment from the old schools which can be reused – mainly specialist equipment such as Design Technology Machinery.

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Q10) Will we as parents, teachers, pupils or local residents be kept informed?

A) Yes. Prior to commencing on site, IPP (Moray Schools) Ltd held public meetings in both Keith and Elgin to give everyone an update and a definitive programme of works. Stewart Milne will give information to neighbours and local residents of forthcoming activities that may affect them, and will also display information on progress on site beside the main site sign boards at each site.

The Council will issue regular Project Updates for the schools and other stakeholders, and these are also posted on the project website at www.moray.gov.uk/ppp along with other useful information, including photographs of the construction work in progress.

It is hoped to make this project part of the curriculum for pupils who will have an opportunity to see at first hand all the bits that go together to make their new school.

The various specialists within IPP (Moray Schools) Ltd can provide technical and practical information to pupils who may be interested in a potential career in architecture, structural engineering, mechanical or electrical engineering, ICT, construction and facilities management.

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Q11) Will the facilities be available to the public and what will this cost?

A) Both schools will have facilities for both school and community use. Access for members of the public to these facilities will be arranged through the Community Centres as now, and the cost will be for the Council to decide.

The facilities at Keith include a dedicated Community area, an Assembly and games hall which will have a sprung wooden floor suitable for both social and sporting activities and will contain two full size badminton courts. Outside facilities include a multi-use games area for the primary school, while at Keith Grammar School there will be a floodlit all weather pitch installed as part of the project and the existing grass pitches will be upgraded with new drainage etc.

The facilities at Elgin Academy are also available for both school and Community use. Again there will be new sports and social facilities including a new games hall, gymnasium, dance studio and fitness suite, and an Assembly hall which opens out into a large social space making this ideal for school productions.

There will be a new floodlit all weather sports pitch and the grass pitches will also incorporate a 400m grass running track. There is an amphitheatre in the courtyard which will also be a superb outdoor social space for students in a safe and secure environment.

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Q12) What happens to the junior primary school building at Keith?

A) The building belongs to the Council and it will be for the Council to decide what to do with it. It will not be demolished by the Contractor after the new school is built.

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Q13) At Elgin, people have been able to walk through the school grounds to get to the town from Morriston Road. Will they still be able to do this?

A) We are providing a route for people to be able to get to the town, but this will take them around the secure fence provided to protect the school and the outside facilities.

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