Issue - meetings

This report provides an update on the school expansion programme with a focus on optimising the use of available funding. It also seeks approval to appoint the design team and associated services for developing the designs for the schemes under Phases 2 & 3.

(i) that the update on demand for primary, secondary and SEN provision as set out in section 4 of the report from the Director of Regeneration and Major Projects and the Director of Children and Families be noted.

(ii) that the update on primary, secondary and SEN proposals, as per section 5 of the report, be noted.

(iii) that the proposals for providing temporary school places for 2013-14 as per section 6 of the report be approved.

(iv) that the current allocation of funds as per the forecast allocation listed under Table 10 of the report be approved.

(v) that a contract be awarded to Curl la Tourelle for the Design Services (including Architects, M&E, Landscape Architecture and Structural Engineering) for Phase 2 & 3 of the school expansion programme, as recommended in section 10 of the report.

(vi) that it be noted that the total value of the contract was £1.34m at a fee rate of 3.193% based on the estimated building works contract sum of £42m.

(vii) that authority be delegated to the Director of Regeneration and Major Projects in consultation with the Lead Member for Regeneration and Major Projects to appoint one or more consultant services using existing Framework Agreements up to combined total value of £3m, for the expansion of the schemes referred to in sections 5 and 6 of the report.

The report before the Executive provided an update on the current projections of demand for primary, secondary and SEN provision and the associated proposals to increase provision to meet this demand. Approval was also sought to appoint a design team and associated services to progress the school expansion programme. Councillor Crane (Lead Member for Regeneration and Major Projects) emphasised that at present there was insufficient funding to undertake all of the proposals encompassed within the school expansion programme and that the council would need to bid for funds to meet basic need and continue to lobby the government for increased funding via London Councils. Andrew Donald (Director of Regeneration and Major Projects) advised that the council had a shortfall of approximately £2m for the proposed expansion of primary provision and £17m for the proposed secondary expansion schemes. Whilst the council had made progress in meeting this shortfall it was noted that there was a trend of increasing demand on school places.

Councillor Pavey (Lead Member for Children and Families) endorsed the proactive approach of the council in meeting demand and commented that good teaching and management created warm, positive school environments irrespective of school size.

The Executive also had before them an appendix to the report which was not for publication as it contained the following category of exempt information as specified in Schedule 12 of the Local Government (Access to Information Act) 1972: 

Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

RESOLVED:

(i)    that the update on demand for primary, secondary and SEN provision as set out in section 4 of the report from the Director of Regeneration and Major Projects and the Director of Children and Families be noted.

(ii)   that the update on primary, secondary and SEN proposals, as per section 5 of the report, be noted.

(iii) that the proposals for providing temporary school places for 2013-14 as per section 6 of the report be approved.

(iv) that the current allocation of funds as per the forecast allocation listed under Table 10 of the report be approved.

(v)   that a contract be awarded to Curl la Tourelle for the Design Services (including Architects, M&E, Landscape Architecture and Structural Engineering) for Phase 2 & 3 of the school expansion programme, as recommended in section 10 of the report.

(vi) that it be noted that the total value of the contract was £1.34m at a fee rate of 3.193% based on the estimated building works contract sum of £42m.

(vii) that authority be delegated to the Director of Regeneration and Major Projects in consultation with the Lead Member for Regeneration and Major Projects to appoint one or more consultant services using existing Framework Agreements up to combined total value of £3m, for the expansion of the schemes referred to in sections 5 and 6 of the report.