Decision details

To consider the report of the Education Capital Programme Manager.  Following recommendations from Council's Capital Board and Approval of urgent request by Chair of OSMC delegating Director of Services to sign the contract for £532,002.49 to progress with the works.

Having complied with the requirements of Rule 16 (urgency) of the Access to Information procedure Rules, it is recommended:

  (i)  To approve internal delegated powers (officer delegated decision) i.e. Service Director Children, Families and Education to sign the contract for £532,002.49 to commence the works.

1.  This report is submitted for consideration as urgent under Rule 16 of the Access to Information procedure Rules in part 4 of the Council’s Constitution, notice having been given to the Chair of Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee and the public. The matter requires an urgent decision and cannot be deferred for 5 clear days.

2.  Southampton City Council has above national average of pupils with special Education need. To deal with ever increasing financial pressures, it was decided to create provision for the SEND pupils within the City rather than educating them outside the City which on average is costing £45,000 more. The proposed project will enable us to provide autism resource base for 48 pupils in total for September 2019. The project has been tendered and contract has to be signed this week in order to commence the works.

The alternative option is to educate pupils outside the City which is hugely expensive and creates further pressure on City Council’s already stretched resources.