Purpose

The County Council has a
statutory duty to provide sufficient school places for all children
who need a place. 
 
Following concerns raised
during a maintenance inspection, West Sussex County Council
commissioned structural surveys to be carried out on the timber
framed modular building, situated adjacent to the outdoor swimming
pool within Storrington Primary School. 
 
In February 2024 a structural
inspection report was issued to the Council identifying that the
timber decay had sufficiently compromised the building’s
structure, beyond economical repair. 
The report concluded that the building should be replaced, in its
entirety, before the start of the 2024/25 Academic Year.
 
There is therefore an urgent
requirement to replace the accommodation before the start of the
Autumn term so that pupils can continue to be educated at the
school.
 
Due to the need for this matter
to be determined as soon as possible the decision maker has secured
agreement from the appropriate Scrutiny Chairman for this key
decision to be taken without prior notice in the Forward Plan of
key decisions (Part 4, Section 1, Standing Order 3.57) (Regulation
11) because delay would prejudice the County Council’s
interests.

Decision

The Cabinet Member for Children and Young
People, Learning and Skills has approved:
 

(1)The allocation of
£475,000 of S106 funding to provide temporary accommodation
at Storrington Primary School, while a permanent solution is
progressed.
 

(2)The delegation of
authority to the Assistant Director (Property and Assets) to award
contracts, as required, to complete the delivery of the temporary
accommodation.
 

(3)The delegation of
authority to the Assistant Director (Property and Assets), in
consultation with the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People,
Learning and Skills, to allocate additional funds above those set
out in Recommendation 1 of this report, should this be required
following the consideration of the procurement bids.