Purpose

That Cabinet approves the Capital Maintenance Delivery Strategy and the allocation from the 2026/27 Recurring Capital Maintenance Budget to deliver the proposed Health & Safety, welfare and asset improvement projects across the estate.

Decision

RESOLVED:

1. That Cabinet approves the Capital Maintenance Delivery Strategy and the allocation of capital funding from the Recurring Corporate and Education Capital Maintenance Budgets for 2026/27, to undertake the proposed urgent projects as listed and identified in the part 2 paper.
2. That Cabinet approves procurement of appropriate construction partners to carry out the works, in accordance with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, as amended or the Procurement Act 2023, and the Council’s Procurement and Contract Standing Orders, as appropriate.
   
   
3. That Cabinet approves delegation of authority to the Deputy Chief Executive, Executive Director of Resources and Section 151 Officer in consultation with the Director of Land and Property to authorise and award contracts, up to +/- 5% of the budgetary tolerance level in accordance with the Council’s Procurement and Contract Standing Orders.
4. That Cabinet notes the role of the Capital Programme Panel (CPP) to scrutinise the Recurring Corporate and Education Capital Maintenance Programmes to provide assurance that delivery is within the overall Medium Term Financial Strategy budget (MTFS) and delegates authority to manage small variances in individual schemes (+/- 5%)  to manage overall spend  within the overall approved Capital Maintenance Delivery Strategy.
5. That Cabinet notes the contract and operational improvements implemented to establish a more robust and sustainable Capital Maintenance delivery programme. This follows a complete overhaul of the contract arrangements with Macro Group Ltd and a review of capacity, capability and delivery routes.

REASOSN FOR DECISIONS:

Approving the programme and noting the strategic improvements outlined in this report will enable the Council to:

• Confirm the approved programme to be delivered within the allocated budget.
• Provide accurate cost certainty and value for money assurance.
• Prioritise statutory health & safety compliance remedial capital works identified by the inspection regime i.e. Fire Safety, Legionella Control, Gas Safety Inspections, Electric Safety Testing, Asbestos management, Lift and Lifting equipment.
• Close financial and legal obligations for school academy conversions where the Council currently remain liable for any projects initiated before a school’s conversion date. Ensuring compliance, documentation, and cost responsibility transfer appropriately under the Conversion and Transfer Agreement (CTA).
• Enable the investment in assets as identified by condition surveys, life cycle and risk assessments.
• Target high-risk or failing infrastructure to prevent operational disruption.
• Deliver sustainable and energy efficiency improvements where practical.
• Adopt the most efficient procurement and delivery approaches (frameworks, batching, contractor management).
• Address specific needs of the education estate i.e. safeguarding, digital, and accessibility.
• Supports the process of prioritisation.

(The decisions on this item can be called-in by the Resources and Performance Select Committee)