Agenda item

To consider the addition of education capital projects and funding to the capital programme.

Cabinet Portfolio Holder - Councillor Kam Kaur

Councillor Kam Kaur, Portfolio Holder for Education, advised that this report sought approval, or onward recommendation to Council, for several projects to be added to the Education Capital Programme, as detailed in the report, in relation to Lighthorne Heath Primary School, Shottery St Andrew’s CofE Primary School, Myton Gardens Primary School, Stratford upon Avon School, George Eliot Academy, Coleshill Learning Pod, and delivery of the safeguarding and security block header.

Councillor Peter Butlin, Portfolio Holder for Finance and Property drew attention to the financing of the projects and noted the inadequacy of existing Section 106 Agreement funding due to high inflation levels and the need to add inflationary guarantees in future. 

Councillor Bill Gifford welcomed the proposals and associated SEND provision which demonstrated that the Council was preparing for the future.

Councillor Sarah Feeney supported the proposed provision but commented on the geography of the projects.  Councillor Isobel Seccombe noted that this report formed part of a wider programme of provision to meet increasing demand for places.

In response, Councillor Kam Kaur noted that an increase in exclusions, with the majority in the north of the county, had led to the proposals being presented for alternative provision at the Coleshill Learning Pod.  The Council continued to explore other sites and were in talks with the Department for Education.  The investment would support much needed provision.

Resolved:

That Cabinet

1.     Approves the proposals relating to Lighthorne Heath Primary School as follows:

a.     Relocate the school to a new school site and increase the capacity from 91 places to 420 places (two form entry)

b.     Establish specialist resourced provision for up 14 learners with SEND;

c.     Recommends to Council the addition of £16.467m to the capital programme to deliver the scheme at Lighthorne Heath Primary School which will be funded from developer contributions, the School Condition Allowance and the Department for Education (DfE) Basic Need Grant;

2.     Approves the proposals relating to Shottery St Andrew’s CofE Primary School as follows:

a.     Relocate the school to a new school site and increase the capacity from 105 places to 420 places (two form entry);

b.     Establish specialist resourced provision for up 8 learners with SEND.

c.     Recommends to Council the addition of £15.573m to the capital programme to deliver the scheme at Shottery St Andrews CofE Primary School which will be funded from developer contributions, the School Condition Allowance, an education capital receipt and the DfE Basic Need Grant;

3.     Recommends to Council the addition of £5.347m to the capital programme to deliver the scheme at Myton Gardens Primary School. This will be funded by developer contributions and the DfE Basic Need Grant.

4.     Approves the addition to the capital programme of £1.500 million to deliver the scheme at Stratford upon Avon School and £0.310 million to deliver the scheme at The George Eliot Academy. Both schemes will be funded by developer contributions.

5.     Approves £0.600 million for the delivery of the disability and access block header and £0.163 million to deliver the scheme at the Coleshill Learning Pod. Both schemes will be funded be funded from the High Needs Capital Grant.

6.     Approves the addition to the capital programme of £0.400 million to deliver the safeguarding and security block header, to be funded from the School Condition Allocation.

7.     Subject to Council’s agreement to the required additions to the Capital Programme, the Executive Director for Children and Young People is authorised, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Property, to invite tenders and enter into the appropriate contracts or (where the scheme is school led) to make the necessary funding arrangements for these schemes on terms and conditions considered acceptable to the Executive Director for Resources.