The Portfolio Holder Decisions/Leader Decisions meeting on Friday 15 November 2024 considered a consultation on school admission arrangements for the 2026/2027 academic year, approved additional funding for improvements at Oak Wood Secondary School, and authorised the procurement of a Dynamic Purchasing System for waste materials.

Permission to Consult on 2026 Admission Arrangements

The Portfolio Holder approved the commencement of a six-week public consultation on the admission arrangements, co-ordinated scheme, and in-year process for school admissions for the 2026/2027 academic year. This consultation is a requirement of the School Admissions Code 2021 when changes are proposed to admission arrangements. The proposed minor changes include a reduction in the published admission number (PAN) at Boughton Leigh Junior School from 120 to 90 to align with current class organisation and support long-term financial planning. This reduction is linked to changes at Brownsover Community School, which is transitioning to a one-form entry primary school. The proposals also aim to clarify who can apply for a school place, detail the process for parental disputes, and include applications from UK Service Personnel under the military covenant and children living abroad. Updates to relevant dates and minor clarifications to comply with previous findings are also part of the proposed changes.

Addition to the Capital Programme 2024/2025

The Portfolio Holder for Finance and Property approved the addition of £1.025 million to the capital programme to fund a scheme at Oak Wood Secondary School. This funding will be sourced from the High Needs Capital Grant. The project involves refurbishing and configuring Unit 1 at Bermuda Park, St David’s Way, Nuneaton, to provide additional vocational places for up to 50 young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in the north of Warwickshire. The original approval for the project in May 2023 was for £2,713,412. Since then, further design and site investigations have led to a cost increase of £0.639 million due to inflation, an increase in scope to meet building regulations, the addition of sensory rooms and upgraded toilets, and increased professional fees. A significant cost of £0.453 million is also required to replace flammable external cladding panels containing expanded polystyrene insulation, a measure deemed necessary due to the high dependency and care needs of the SEND pupils. The total project budget now stands at £3,737,764. The new accommodation is expected to be operational from September 2025.

Approval to Procure a Dynamic Purchasing System for Waste Materials

The Portfolio Holder for Finance and Property authorised the Executive Director for Communities to undertake a procurement exercise to establish a Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) for waste materials arising in Warwickshire. This system will provide a compliant, flexible, and efficient method for purchasing a variety of waste management services. The DPS will allow individual contracts for specific waste streams to be tendered as and when required, benefiting both the council and suppliers by generating swift, value-for-money solutions. This approach is particularly advantageous for niche and low-volume waste streams, as suppliers can join the DPS at any time, enabling new market entrants and facilitating the reprocessing of new waste materials. The DPS is expected to be advertised by December 2024 and will be usable until its expiry, which is anticipated to be approximately four years. The total estimated value of contracts to be procured under the DPS is between £1 million and £3 million. The establishment of the DPS itself incurs no direct financial implications beyond officer time, as it will be used to deliver services funded by the existing waste management budget. The system aims to ensure the safe and environmentally sound management of waste materials in Warwickshire.

Stratford District CPE Variation 9 - S2-S4 Residents' Parking Zones

The Portfolio Holder for Transport and Planning approved specific parts of a proposed Traffic Regulation Order for Residents' Parking Zones S3 and S4 in Stratford-upon-Avon, while deferring other proposals for further monitoring. The approved changes include the implementation of a Traffic Regulation Order that will alter parking bay usage in Mulberry Street and Shakespeare Street, changing some areas from permit-holder only overnight parking to a shared use of Pay & Display or permit holders during the day. The hours of operation for all S4 zone bays will also be adjusted to be Pay & Display or S4 Permit Holders from 8am to 6pm, and S4 Permit Holders Only from 6pm to 8am. Additionally, S3 Permit eligibility will be extended to residents of St. Gregory's Road, and changes will be made to S2 Permit eligibility for the Samaritans. Proposals to merge the S2 and S4 zones, and to allow the Town Centre S2-S3 Permit Zone to use S4 permits, have been deferred. This deferral is to allow for monitoring of the implemented measures and to develop further proposals for a separate Traffic Regulation Order. The decision followed significant feedback from residents, with 80 representations received, split between 42 in support and 38 objections. Key concerns raised by objectors included the potential for the S4 zone to become oversubscribed due to 'overspill' parking from the S2 zone, issues with visitor permit abuse, and concerns over personal safety when parking further from home. Officers acknowledged these concerns and recommended deferring the merging of the S2 and S4 zones to allow for further assessment of parking availability and to develop measures that redistribute demand more equitably. All work related to this Traffic Regulation Order will be funded from existing allocations from the Local Member's Delegated Budget.