Decision details

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Education and Children’s Social Care summarising the key programmes and projects relating to school expansion, repair and maintenance and seeks approval to additions to the overall programme and approval to spend on key projects.

On consideration of the report of the Cabinet Member for Education and Children’s Social Care Cabinet agreed to note the contents of this report and recommend to Council for approval. 

The Council has a number of priorities for investment within the Education and Children’s Social Care portfolio, which are highlighted within this report. As such, the recommendations seek to ensure that the resources available to the Authority are allocated to these proposals, in order that the relevant projects can be commenced. This relates directly to the Executive Commitment to ‘invest to ensure good local schools’.

1.  The proposals contained within this report represent the means by which the Council can best deliver its stated objectives and responsibilities in terms of school organisation and estate maintenance. The option of not carrying out these proposals would necessarily result in a delay in project commencement and, potentially, a failure to deliver on key objectives for the current financial year and beyond.

2.  All of the capital schemes proposed within this report have significant priority and require immediate investment. The rationale underpinning each scheme differs from programme to programme, as set out below:

·  Capital Maintenance – based on the need to undertake significant works relating to health & safety and statutory compliance issues.

·  School Expansion – based on the need to provide sufficient pupil places to meet demand, in line with the Council’s statutory duty in this respect.