Purpose

The Pines School Specialist Unit to create 50 places for ASD/SCLN/LD – Construction Works Contract

Decision

RESOLVED That the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People & Health approves the Procurement Plan as shown in Appendix A, to enable the commencement of the procurement process.

RESOLVED That the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People & Health delegates authority to the Executive Director People following the procurement process to award the works contract and enter into a JCT contract to the successful contractor following completion of the procurement process.

Reasons for the decision

The Council’s Contract Standing Orders (CSOs) have been reviewed, and the appropriate governance route has been identified.  Notwithstanding the fact that the Contract value falls below the works threshold, as this is a key decision, the procurement requires Cabinet Member approval in accordance with Paragraph 5.4 of the CSOs. The Council’s Contract Standing Orders have been reviewed, and the appropriate governance route has been identified. 

There is a need to complete this project at pace to reduce the ongoing costs of sending pupils out of Borough.  The procurement approach set out in the Procurement Plan Appendix A have medium and small contractors who have the correct skills to undertake this project and allows for a mini competition to be completed, ensuring value for money and quality.

Alternative options considered

A number of existing public sector frameworks and Dynamic Purchasing System have been reviewed and the procurement approach set out in the procurement plan provides the Council a compliant route to market and best value.

Delay the project, which would risk failure to meet the sufficiency commitments made in the SEND reform plan date June 2026.

Delay the project, however this would prevent pupils accessing this provision, increasing the likelihood of placing pupils out of Borough or into the independent sector, which would incur additional revenue expenditure to the Council.