Purpose

To request approval tor a programme of work to
address building condition issues in LA maintained
schools.

Content

Cabinet considered a
report of the Director of Children’s Service / Cabinet Member
for Children’s Services and Education which sought to
approval for the proposed expenditures on various schemes in
accordance with the Council’s Financial Regulations.
 
The Director of
Children’s Services was in attendance to present the report
and to answer the questions and the comments of the Board
Members.
 
Resolved:
1.   
That  the future capital allocations be noted as
follows:

a.   
DfE School Condition Allocations                                       
£1,800,000
(indicative figure for
receipt in year 2024/25)

b.   
Additional
DfE School Condition Allocation for
2023/24        £833,753                        

c.   
Devolved Formula
Capital (DFC)                                          
£410,000

(indicative figure for receipt in 2024/25)

 
2.   
That
expenditure on the proposed programmes detailed
within this report (Appendix A) be approved, for invitations to
tender to be issued and accepted and for the supporting contracts,
PFI deeds of variation (where necessary) and any incidental and
ancillary documentation, to be signed in order to deliver the
development schemes outlined in the appendices, in accordance with
Financial Regulations:

Capital Programme of £3,310,653
as set out in Appendix A of this report;
3.   
That authority be
delegated to the Director of Children’s Services
to invite and evaluate tenders for the projects
described in this report and enter into the appropriate contracts
and incidental and ancillary documentation in consultation with the
relevant Portfolio Holder and Assistant Director Legal &
Governance, as per the Council’s Constitution;
4.   
That authority be delegated to the Council’s
Section 151 officer to allocate and vire funding to Children’s Services to
support the programme when it is received.
 
Reason for decision:
Once again this year, schools have been
invited to submit requests for funding assistance, not only for the
2024/25 capital programme but also for
2025/26.  The aim of this is to allow
schools increased longer term planning time both financially and
practically.  It will also allow
early design work to be commissioned for the largest
proposed capital projects and so facilitate prompt tendering and
the most competitive costs possible.
 
Alternatives considered and
rejected:
Proposals are put
forward in line with priorities and commitments approved in
previous Cabinet reports.  Major
priorities for the forthcoming year are additional pupil place
planning and a school building condition works programme to address
the highest priority issues.