Purpose

To request Cabinet’s approval of the
Outline Business Case (OBC) to provide new school buildings for
Berwick Academy. An outline capital allocation for investment in
Education has already been made within the Council’s medium
term capital programme. The Outline Business Case seeks to confirm
the estimate of capital required for the proposed scheme.

Content

RESOLVED
that:-
 

(a)      Cabinet
note the revised allocation of £64.066 million capital
funding (an increase of £5.272m, funding for which is subject
to Full Council approval) to amend the Council’s medium term
financial plan 2025-2028 to deliver the scheme to provide new
school buildings for Berwick Academy.?The scheme is planned to be
completed by Summer 2028.  The total
project cost is £64 million, with £50.91 million for
Berwick Academy buildings, this compares to the £50m the
Council has invested in the two schools that form part of the super
school in Seaton Valley that opened this September;

(b)      Cabinet approve
the Outline Business Case and the commencement of procurement using
a Design and Build Procurement strategy utilising a two-stage
tender using a preferred framework that contains tier one
construction contractors with experience of delivering education
projects. The programme would see procurement commencing in October
2025 and the new school being operational by September 2028;
and

(c)      Cabinet
note that the Final Business Case is to be approved by Cabinet
prior to the award of contract to the preferred contractor in
Spring Term 2026, with construction commencing in Summer 2026,
subject to Council approval of any additional funding.