Decision details

To approve the three year strategy for permanent/temporary provision for school places.

(i)         that the on-going pressures on primary school places as set out in the joint report from the Director of Children and Families and the Director of Regeneration and Major Projects, in particular the requirement for an additional 15 forms of entry (equating to 105 classrooms) by 2014/15 be noted;

(ii)        that it be noted that at the time of writing the government has announced that it will be allocating an additional £500m to fund more new school places in areas of greatest need. However, the allocation model has not been decided as of now and it may not be sufficient to support meeting this on-going pressure;

(iii)       that agreement be given to undertake a robust and co-ordinated lobbying campaign to highlight to government the nature and scale of the challenge faced;

(iv)       that it be noted that a longer term approach to the school’s portfolio was being considered as part of the current property strategy work, and will be reported to members in due course;

(v)        that approval be given to the allocation of £13.770m from the Council’s Main Capital Programme for providing additional primary school places across Brent schools from September 2012 onwards, as set out in the table under paragraph 9.15 of the joint report;

(vi)       that agreement be given to the current and future allocation of £7.201m from the Section 106 Capital Receipts for providing additional primary school places across Brent schools from September 2012 onwards, as set out in the table under paragraph 9.15 of the Directors’ report;

(vii)      that the shortfall in funding of £31.039m by 2014-15 necessary to provide additional primary school places across Brent schools from 2012-13 to 2014-15, as set out in the table under paragraph 9.15 be noted;

(viii)     that agreement be given to the prioritisation of the recommended schemes for spending as set out in the table under paragraph 10.10 for providing additional primary school places;

(ix)       that approval be given to the preparation of feasibility studies for the short listed schools given under paragraph 10.10 of the Directors’ report.

(x)        that the allocation of £150k from the Council’s Main Capital Programme for updating the information on school condition and cad database which will enable intelligent planning for new expansions and allow timely maintenance work to be scheduled for existing buildings be endorsed.

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