Decision

Salford City Council - Record of Decision (Cabinet)

I, Paul Dennett, City Mayor, in exercise of the powers contained within the City Council Constitution do hereby approve:

The associated budget costs of £13.24m for the delivery of a number of pupil place planning projects across multiple educational settings within the city. Approval of a further £500k has also been granted, allowing for the commissioning of further feasibility studies across a number of sites.

The Reasons are:

The planned works provide a strategic response to demographic trends.

Ensuring that both secondary mainstream and specialist provision keeps pace with demand, while supporting long?term educational planning across the city, enabling the local authority to meet its statutory duty.

The undertaking and commissioning of further feasibility studies will be carried out as a preliminary phase development and will support strategic plans to address future pupil demand.

Options considered and rejected were: None.

Assessment of Risk: The creation of additional pupil capacity will assist the city council in fulfilling its statutory duty in relation to the provision of sufficient school places.

The source of funding is:  The Local Authority’s available Basic Need and SEND capital grant allocations

Legal Advice obtained: Hugo Hollingsworth, Principal Solicitor, Community Services (Legal) Team.

This report aligns with relevant legislation and statutory guidance.

Financial Advice obtained: Adam Mozley, Senior Accountant.

The report is seeking approval for the funding required to deliver a number of pupil place planning projects across multiple educational settings within the city. The overall cost of the work mentioned in section 2.0 totals to £13.24m, of which £4.04m will be funded from available Basic Need Grant allocations and £9.2m from the available SEND capital grant allocation.

The Department for Education has allocated Salford City Council the below funding amounts for Basic Need and SEND for 2026/2027 & 2027/2028.

Grant award

2026/27 Allocation

2027/28 Allocation

Total grant award

Basic need

£3,974,617

£2,521,043

£ 6,495,660

SEND

£3,679,998

TBA

£3,679,998

Total

£7,654,615

£2,521,043

£10,175,658

There is further SEND funding available within the Children’s Capital balance sheet from previous financial year underspends which can be used towards the projects detailed in the report.

Procurement Advice obtained: Daniel Cunliffe, Category Manager Level 1.

There are no procurement implications at this time, however, should that change, we would work with the team to ensure compliance to the regulations and SCC Governance.

HR Advice obtained: Not Applicable

Climate Change Advice obtained: Not Applicable

Contact Officers:  

• Paula Newall, Service Lead, School Organisation
• Michael Goddard, Projects and Provision Planning Manager, School Organisation          
• Telephone number: 778 0447/778 0450

The appropriate scrutiny to call-in the decision is: Children’s Scrutiny Panel.         

Signed:           P.Dennett                                   Dated: 17/06/26                                                      

                    City Mayor

For Democratic Services use only

This decision was published on 18/06/26                                              

This decision will come in force at 4.00 p.m. on 25/06/26.                                               unless it is called-in in accordance with the Decision Making Process Rules.