Decision

The Interim Director of Capital Programmes has approved that Portakabin Ltd (Company Number 00685303) be directly awarded a contract to the value of £420,199.00 via the NHS Shared Business Services (NHS SBS) Framework; Modular Buildings, Lot 4 Education modular for:
a. undertaking the installation of temporary modular buildings with 2 classrooms and toilets, plus all groundworks, at Fender Primary School, New Hey Road, Woodchurch CH49 8HB; and
b. hire of the building for 3 years (156 week).

Reasons for the decision

A detailed Specification of requirements has been received from Fender Primary School, New Hey Road, Woodchurch, to accommodate the increase in pupil numbers accessing the schools SEND base provision for the 2026/27 school year.
Initial SEND pupil sufficiency planning work has illustrated that the need for such additional capacity at Fender Primary School will increase year on year.
A more permanent solution of a new building on the school grounds is in the planning stage but, would not be completed before the start of the new academic year.
In this instance a direct award to Portakabin Limited via the NHS SBS Framework; Modular Buildings, Lot 4 Education modular hire and lease, and will be underpinned by a formal contract which will be drawn up by the Council’s legal team in due course.

Alternative options considered

A number of design options have been explored to create the additional pupil accommodation required by the school. This has included exploring capacity in other SEND bases in mainstream schools, internal alterations at the school site and traditional build solutions.
An extension to the existing building is in planning stage but would not be completed for the 2026/27 academic year. The school could not accommodate the increase in pupil numbers within the existing building until the new building was built. The option of not proceeding with the temporary classroom project would mean that teaching accommodation would not meet Department for Education guidelines and might incur looking at out of borough education solutions.
Out of Borough solutions to place pupils with SEND are often not appropriate and have significant financial implications. The project option presented equates to circa £18,750.00 per pupil whilst to educate out of Borough would be an additional £50,000.00 per pupil.