Issue - meetings

Further to the School Place Planning Strategy 2019 – 2023 Refresh provided for Cabinet in November 2021, this report presents a business case for capital investment in order to provide additional school places for the growing number of children in the borough with SEND.

Cabinet RESOLVED:

(1)     To approve the SEN Capital Programme as detailed within the report.

(2)     To allocate £44.19m of capital funding to deliver the programme.

(3)     To delegate authority to approve the project business cases to the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment in consultation with the Strategic Director of Children and Young People and the Director of Finance.

(4)     To delegate authority to agree pre-tender considerations, procure and award the necessary technical, consultancy and services contracts valued in excess of £2m and works contracts valued in excess of £5m to the Strategic Director, Regeneration and Environment, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Schools, Employment and Skills and the Strategic Director for Children and Young People.

(5)     To note that further reports would be brought forward providing updates on progress on the delivery of the programme.

Councillor Stephens (Lead Member for Education, Employment and Skills) introduced the report which, further to the refresh of the School Place Planning Strategy 2019-2023, outlined a business case for capital investment designed to provide additional school places for the increasing number of children in the borough with Special Educational Needs (SEND).

In considering the report, Cabinet noted the increasing demand for SEND provision in Brent, as detailed within section 3 of the report and associated financial pressure in relation to the High Needs Block within the Dedicated Schools Grant which development of the SEND capital programme had been designed to address.  Members were advised of the various work streams within the Capital Programme, as detailed within section 4 and Appendix A of the report, which would deliver a total of 427 new SEN pupil places at a cost of £44.19m.  This would involve not only an increase in Additionally Resourced Provision (ARP), expansion of existing SEND schools and capital improvement projects but also the construction of a new build SEND school which would significantly increase in borough SEND provision and assist in reducing the number out of borough placements.  Whilst noting the financial benefits of the approach outlined within the programme, members were also supportive of the strong educational and social rationale in terms of being able to place students within borough.

Thanks were expressed to Councillor Mili Patel (as former Lead Member for Children’s Safeguarding, Early Help and Social Care) for her role in development of the programme, with Cabinet also noting the engagement of the Brent Parent Carer Forum and wider stakeholder representatives on the Brent Children’s Trust in the process as well as the ongoing involvement of ward councillors.

The close alignment between the programme, School Place Planning Strategy 2019-2023 (which included the redirection of resources following Cabinet’s decision to close the Secondary Expansion Programme) and High Needs Block Deficit Management Plan was highlighted for members who also recognised its importance as a key infrastructure project within the borough.

Having noted and welcomed the benefits associated with the programme and thanks to all those involved in its development Cabinet RESOLVED:

(1)     To approve the SEN Capital Programme as detailed within the report.

(2)     To allocate £44.19m of capital funding to deliver the programme.

(3)     To delegate authority to approve the project business cases to the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment in consultation with the Strategic Director of Children and Young People and the Director of Finance.

(4)     To delegate authority to agree pre-tender considerations, procure and award the necessary technical, consultancy and services contracts valued in excess of £2m and works contracts valued in excess of £5m to the Strategic Director, Regeneration and Environment, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Schools, Employment and Skills and the Strategic Director for Children and Young People.

(5)     To note that further reports would be brought forward providing updates on progress on the delivery of the programme.