Purpose

The report was approved by the officer to allocate £0.077m for capital works to a single classroom and sensory rooms including equipment at Ashton West End Primary Academy from the Councils HNCPA budget in support of its statutory duties to provide suitable school placements for Children and Young People.

Decision

(i)                That approval is given for the allocation of £0.077m for capital works at Ashton West End Primary as set out in Section 4 of this report including management, monitoring and delivery of the works in accordance with the Schedule by Officers in Capital Delivery.  The processing of invoices submitted by the school and contractors ensuring full compliance with the Councils financial, procurement procedure rules and standing orders to the point of handover and completion.

(ii)             The virement of £0.077m from the HNCPA unallocated funding stream to accommodate the cost of the additional capital works to the main school provision is approved. 

(iii)           That approval is given for financial management, oversight of spend and approval of payments by the Head of Strategic Property Housing, Environment and Estates within the limits as determined by the Financial Procedure rules.

Reasons for the decision

The decision reflected efficient use of the High Need Capital Provision Allocation (HNCPA).  Delivered value for money and cost savings in the short and long term for reinvestment and increases the quality and variety of Specialist Resource Provision across the borough.

Alternative options considered

(i)                  Creating the provision without sufficient and adequately equipped sensory space, fixtures, fittings, equipment and damaged and unsafe internal building fabric which presented a health and safety risk.  Potentially increased the severity and length of calming episodes and re-traumatising for children in crisis presenting management challenges for staff.  This carried safeguarding and SEND legal implications related to the Children and Families Act 2014 and Health and Safey at Work Act 1974.

(ii)                Not completing the works was rejected due to the need to meet statutory obligations to provide high quality safe classroom space and sufficient sensory rooms that account for the increase in pupil numbers.