Purpose

On the 16 October 2025 the Children and Young People Committee approved a £2m budget increase for additional roof repair works at St Annes Infants School associated with the refurbishment of the school building to provide 24 new additional places for children with complex autistic spectrum condition (ASC). The committee authorised the Director of Education in consultation with the Chair of the Children and Young People Committee and Director Property, Assets and Infrastructure to take all steps required to spend the funding on the St Anne’s project, including procuring and awarding contracts over the key decision threshold, as outlined in the report. This decision covers the instructions under the associated JCT building contract to carry out those works.

Decision

To approve the variation of the JCT Building Contract for refurbishment works at St Annes Infants School to include the additional roof repair works

Alternative options considered

Do Nothing - This option was considered and rejected. Under a do-nothing approach, the building would have been in an unusable condition causing ongoing disruption to the educational continuity of learning on site and not delivering the 24 new additional places for children with complex ASC.

Reprocure the works to include the additional requirements. - This option was rejected as contract mechanisms were available under the JCT building contract for the instruction of the additional works. Open book sub-contractor procurement verified by the project’s Quantity Surveyor demonstrated competition and value for money for the additional works. Reprocuring would have impacted warranties / liabilities for works undertaken to date.

Preferred Option - Issue instructions under the awarded JCT building contract for the additional roof repair works required to complete the refurbishment of the St Annes Infants School building. This option provides the best balance of deliverability, value for money & educational outcomes.