Decision Maker: Cabinet

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Date of Decision: September 18, 2024

Purpose: To agree scheme, costs and scope for New All Through (SEN) school at Hargood Road

Content: Agreed the Scheme and Estimate for the development of a new all-through SEND School for secondary and post 16 students with special education needs at Hargood Road as set out in Appendix A to the report.   Noted, Cabinet approved funding for SEND provision in the Children Services School Placing and Capital Programme on 15 Nov 2023 earmarking a budget allocation for the construction of a new SEND school at Hargood Road.   Approved the budget allocation in line with the Scheme and Estimate by utilising DfE funding for Additional High Needs Grant announced in March 2024.   Noted, that in October 2023 the Leader of Council, approved a Contract Award to appoint Galliford Try Construction Limited for PCSA RIBA Stage 2-4; for the sum of £1,533,105 following a competitive tender via the Southern Construction Framework (SCF).   Noted, that enabling and early works will be required during 2024/25 to facilitate the required opening date.   Noted that enabling works are already underway and have identified large scale ground contamination.  The ground contamination risk is captured in section 10 of this report.  Given the scale of contamination it is likely that the scheme costs will increase, however the precise scale is unknown at the time of writing this report.  If this results in costs exceeding the scheme and estimate budget presented in Appendix A, budget will be drawn from the overall school’s capital programme and this will be ratified in a future report.   Authorised the Director of Regeneration, Enterprise, and Skills in consultation with the Director of Children’s Services to vary the scheme details in accordance with the priority projects set out in paragraphs 4.81 – 4.90 of the School Place Planning and Capital Programme 2022/23 - 2024/25 (as approved by Cabinet on 2nd November 2022) along with paragraphs 4.69 – 4.71 and paragraphs 4.81 – 4.83 of the School Place Planning and Capital Programme 2023/24 - 2025/26 26 (as approved by Cabinet on 15th November 2023).   Noted that the authority to the Director of Regeneration, Enterprise and Skills at paragraph 1.6 above to vary the scheme details does not include an authority to vary the scheme budget as approved under the Cabinet’s decision dated 15th November 2023.