The Coventry City Council Cabinet meeting on 11 June 2024 focused on the budget increase for the relocation of Woodfield Schools to the Woodlands School site. The Cabinet approved additional funding to cover the shortfall due to inflation and other complexities, ensuring the project could proceed without delay.

Woodfield Relocation to Woodlands Site - Budget Increase

The Cabinet discussed a report from the Director of Partnerships and Performance regarding the budget increase needed for the relocation of Woodfield Schools to the Woodlands School site. The project had encountered a shortfall due to inflation, design complexities, and additional costs from invasive surveys and planning requirements.

The urgency of the decision was highlighted by Councillor N Akhtar, Chair of the Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee, who noted that the tender process had a validity period ending on 24 May. Delays in decision-making could lead to increased costs and impact the construction schedule, affecting school pupils and the council's reputation. The Department for Education (DfE) was also pressuring the council and the Academy Trust to expedite the process.

The Cabinet approved the additional funding required to cover the shortfall, ensuring the project could proceed. The decision was not subject to call-in due to the urgency of the matter.

The academy conversion cannot take place until the works contract is signed. Any delays to appointing the contractor will impact the academisation process, stated the report.

The project was initially approved in principle on 18 October 2021, with further resources allocated in the One Strategic Plan report presented to the Cabinet on 10 January 2023. The council had received additional High Needs Capital funding in March 2024, which would be allocated as part of the annual One Strategic Plan report.

The Cabinet resolved to:

1. Approve the additional sum required for the capital refurbishment works, financed from existing education capital resources.
2. Delegate authority to the Director of Finance and Resources, in consultation with the Director of Partnerships and Performance, the Director of Law and Governance, and the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, to undertake necessary due diligence and approve any incidental actions required to implement the decision.

Further details on the commercially sensitive financial matters were discussed in a private report.

For more information, you can refer to the minutes of the meeting.