Decision details

Purpose of Report: To gain approval of the budget for the education capital programme, 2024/25.

The Executive will be asked to:

1) Approve the 2024/25 budget for capital maintenance works valued over £100,000.
2) Approve the budget to build additional classrooms to accommodate a growth in pupil places at St Oswald’s CE Primary and Hob Moor Oaks.
3) Approve the budget to refurbish the science labs at Huntington School.
4) Approve the budget to create outdoor learning areas at Danesgate.
5) Delegate approval of expenditure on individual schemes to officer level.

Resolved:

                         i.         Approved the £3,000,000 budget for capital maintenance works planned for 2024/25.

Reason:     To complete the annual programme of maintenance works within the maintained school estate, dealing with the most urgent issues for 2024/25.

                        ii.         Approved the budget of £1,400,000 to build additional classrooms to accommodate a growth in pupil places at St Oswald’s CE VC Primary.

Reason:     To accommodate the demand for mainstream school pupil places.

                      iii.         Approved the budget of £1,100,000 to build additional classrooms to accommodate the demand SEN pupil places at Hob Moor Oaks Community Primary Academy.

Reason:     To accommodate the demand for special school pupil

places for those children with complex special educational needs.

                      iv.         Approved the budget of £1,100,000 to refurbish the science labs at Huntington Secondary School.

Reason:     To resolve health and safety issues within the existing

science labs that mean teachers are unable to deliver the full science curriculum. This will ensure these labs are future-proofed for existing pupil numbers prior to the increased pupil numbers expected from planned housing developments.

                       v.         Approved the £600,000 budget to create outdoor learning areas at Danesgate Community Pupil Referral Unit.

Reason:     To accommodate the increased demand for alternative

teaching spaces for pupils with Social and Emotional Mental Health (“SEMH”).

                      vi.         Agreed to delegate approval of expenditure on individual schemes to the Corporate Director of Children’s Services and Education (or his delegated officers).

Reason:     To ensure efficient spend and that decisions are made in a timely manner on individual schemes throughout the life of the capital programme.

                    vii.         Agreed to delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Children’s Services and Education (or his delegated officers), in consultation with the Director of Governance (or his delegated officers), to determine the provisions of any new works contracts necessary for the delivery of the Education Capital Programme, 2024/25, and to award and conclude each of these contracts following the appropriate competitive tendering processes.

Reason:     This ensure compliance with LA’s Contract Procedure

Rules and its obligations under Public Procurement Law, as well as enable the Education Capital Programme, 2024/25 to be delivered on time.