Purpose

Fordwater School in Chichester is a
Special School for young people aged 2 to 19 with severe and
complex learning difficulties. Due to the growing demand in West
Sussex for additional pupil places for children with these areas of
need a decision was taken to create a satellite site of
Fordwater school on the Chichester High
School site to accommodate up to 40 secondary aged
pupils.
 
In August 2022 the Cabinet
Member for Finance and Property, in consultation with the Cabinet
Member for Learning and Skills, approved the sub-lease arrangements
for the former sixth form centre at Chichester High School
(decision
FP06 (22/23) refers). This decision
secured the necessary accommodation.
 
The Assistant Director
(Property and Assets) has already approved a budget of
£0.480m for the project. However, following the outcome of
the procurement exercise, the cost of the works required will
exceed the budget approved and additional funds are required to
enable the proposal to be delivered.
 
It is proposed that received
Section 106 funds are allocated to this project to fund the
necessary adaptations at the proposed satellite site. In addition,
the budget will fund all associated fees, ICT, furniture and equipment. 
 
The works to adapt the building
will be arranged by the school via a school managed project,
overseen by the school’s appointed consultant. Approval is
also sought to award the building contract to P H Beck Ltd. in the
sum of £627,615.

Decision

The Assistant Director (Property and Assets)
has approved:
 

(1)The allocation and
passporting of £0.304m of s.106 receipts to Fordwater School to fund the necessary urgent
condition works; adaptations to the existing accommodation and
external works as set out in paragraph 2.1 of the report to enable
the phased establishment of a satellite site to Fordwater School for up to 40 children and young
people, in a phased approach, from September 2024. This is in
addition to £0.480m already approved giving a total capital
budget of £0.784m.
 

(2)The award of the
contract for the construction works to P H Beck Ltd. in the sum of
£627,615.