The Officer Key Decision meeting scheduled for Tuesday 28 July 2026 was set to consider a report regarding decarbonisation works at Roman Road Primary School. The decision-making authority for this matter was delegated to a specific officer, with details of the final decision to be made available separately.

Roman Road School - Phase 1 Decarbonisation Works - Pre-procurement Approval

The primary item scheduled for discussion was the pre-procurement approval for Phase 1 decarbonisation works at Roman Road Primary School. The report indicated that the Corporate Director of Children's and Young People's Services, Laura Eden, was the decision-maker for this matter. The proposed works involve upgrading the school's heating and ventilation system, with an estimated budget of £0.957m.

The report outlined that Roman Road Primary School, built in the 1970s and subsequently expanded, currently has a gas heating system nearing the end of its operational life. To align with Newham's Just Transition Plan¹, a decarbonisation survey was conducted to identify measures for reducing the school's reliance on fossil fuels. The planned upgrades are intended to be part-funded by the Department for Education's School Condition Programme (£0.605m) and the Salix Phase 4 Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme grant (£0.352m).

The recommendation was to approve a procurement process to source a contractor with proven experience in delivering similar works within schools. The procurement would be conducted via the Oracle Fusion Request for Quotes (RFQ) Portal, inviting six contractors to tender. The evaluation criteria were proposed to be 60% price, 30% quality, and 10% social value. Following the tender evaluation, a further report would be submitted to seek permission to enter into a contract with the winning bidder.

The report highlighted that the project aligns with the council's Corporate Plan 2022–2026, aiming to invest in children and young people, and the Newham Just Transition Plan 2023, which seeks to reduce carbon emissions and ensure schools are healthy, comfortable, and efficient. The alternative option of do nothing was rejected due to the heating system's age and the need to maintain ambient temperatures for children's learning. Another rejected alternative was a different procurement route or cost and quality split, as the proposed method was recommended by the Strategic Procurement Team for achieving competitive bids and best value.

Financially, the estimated contractual cost is £0.957m, to be financed by the aforementioned grants. The Public Sector Decarbonisation budget for the school will be added to the capital programme following cabinet approval. Legally, the Council has the power to procure such works under Section 111 of the Local Government Act 1972 and the general power of competence under Section 1 of the Localism Act 2011. The procurement value falls below the threshold for the full Procurement Act 2023 regime, but the Council's Contract Standing Orders require construction contracts between £100k and the legislative threshold to be tendered via Constructionline with a minimum of five tenderers invited.

The report also addressed the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) under section 149 of the Equality Act 2010, stating the Council's commitment to eliminating discrimination and advancing equality of opportunity. The proposed redesign of the existing kitchen and first-floor staff area was noted to improve functionality and staff experience.