Purpose

To approve a further allocation from the Children’s Services Capital Programme 2023-24. To note allocations made under delegated powers and the receipt of funds received/returned to the Children’s Services Capital Budget.

Decision

That the Cabinet Member
for Education:

 

a)   notes the
allocations made under delegated powers by the Children’s Services Head of
Development and the Executive Director of Children’s Services as detailed in
Appendix 2;

 

b)   notes the receipt of the funds received/returned
to the Children’s Services Capital budget as detailed in Appendix 3; and

 

c)  approves
the allocation of
£206,525 from the 2023-24 School    
Condition Allocation to the schemes detailed in Appendix 4.

Reasons for the decision

To inform of the approvals made under delegated
powers.

 

To
inform of the return/receipt of funds.

 

To
address the most pressing maintenance issues in schools to ensure the school
estate is maintained to a high level.

 

To
ensure there is sufficient capacity at schools in the County.

Alternative options considered

The School Condition is an annual allocation of
school condition capital from the DfE. This capital grant is to improve and
maintain the condition of the school estate (buildings and grounds). The grant
allocation is determined by the DfE and takes into account the information
collected through the Property Data Survey programme. Basic need is an
allocation from the DfE for providing new school places by either expanding
existing schools or by establishing new schools in Derbyshire. The allocation
is determined by the DfE based on the data collected in the School Capacity
Survey (SCAP).

 

Allocations are made to address the most
pressing condition related issues at schools and/or to provide places where
pupil projections indicate there will be pressure on places in a school place
planning area. The funding is to ensure there is sufficient capacity at all the
schools involved and that the accommodation is suitable to support the delivery
of education.

 

The School
Condition Allocation must be spent in accordance with the terms of the grant to
improve and maintain the condition of the
school estate and cannot be used for any alternative purposes. Similarly, the
Basic Need Allocation must be spent in accordance with the terms of the grant
to provide new school places.