Decision Maker: Cabinet

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Date of Decision: March 18, 2025

Purpose: The report seeks approval for proposed expenditure on various schemes in accordance with the Council’s Financial Regulations. These regulations provide that Cabinet approval should be obtained before new expenditure can be incurred. This report requests approval and tender acceptance, where necessary, for the outlined and reserve schemes proposed, contingency and other specified budgets.

Content: The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Children’s Services, which sought approval to accept the Department of Education grant funding received from Basic Need and School Condition Allocation funding to support the needs of provision for school places and the works to address condition needs of school buildings and estates.   The Academy Schools Conversion & Capital Projects Manager was in attendance to present the information and to address the questions and the comments of the Cabinet Members.   Resolved: 1.    That the future capital allocations be noted and that the Department for Education (DfE) grants be accepted as follows:            DfE School Condition Allocations                                 £1,800,000            (indicative figure for receipt in year 2025/26)             Additional DfE School Condition Allocation                  £664,723            received in 2024/25            Devolved Formula Capital (DFC)                                  £400,000            (indicative figure for receipt in 2025/26)            Basic Need Allocations                                                 £18,511,036            (DfE confirmed figure for 2025/26) 2.    That the expenditure on the proposed programmes detailed within the report as outlined at Appendices A & B be approved; 3.    That the Director of Children’s Services be given delegated authority to go out to tender and accept contracts for the schemes as detailed in appendices A and B of the report, with the delegation to amend PFI deeds of variation (where necessary) and any incidental and ancillary documentation; 4.    That the Director for Children’s Services be given delegated authority to invite and evaluate tenders for the projects described in this report and to award the contracts for the projects (subject to approval of all necessary statutory proposals) following consultation with the Portfolio Holder and Assistant Director Legal & Governance and the Council’s Constitution; 5.    That the Director of Children’s Services be given delegated authority to allocate and vire funding between projects within the programme to support needs within the financial envelope of the funding allocations and report these to Cabinet through the Quarterly Financial Update.   Reason for decision: The Authority has received confirmation from the DfE of a Basic Need allocation of £18,511,036 for 2025/26. Demand on, and proposals relating to school places were reported to Cabinet on 21st January 2025 (special schools), this would be followed by further reports as need was identified. Repairs to the LA maintained school estate have considered all commitments and urgent demands before making recommendations to address the most significant issues, in conjunction with continued DFC allocations to schools. As well as on-going support for the current phases of capital works already committed, the service were proposing a new programme of works to address major condition needs based on Asset Management information, recently commissioned and prioritised full building condition survey information and priority place planning demands in order to ensure that we satisfy the LA’s statutory obligations for the provision of school places and continued education. Full recommendations for inclusion in this year’s capital programme were outlined in Appendix A, including costs estimated by the Council’s Property Services Team. It was proposed that the Buildings Maintenance revenue budget would be used, as in previous years, to support programme development costs, emergency/unplanned repairs and ongoing obligations related to the inspection of the schools building stock.   Alternatives considered and rejected: Proposals were put forward in line with priorities and commitments approved in previous Cabinet reports. Major priorities for the forthcoming year are additional pupil place planning and a school building condition works programme to address the highest priority issues.