Decision details

The Executive will be asked to consider and approve proposed spending priorities for a capital grant from the Department for Children Schools and Families (DCSF)

Received a report from the Corporate Director of Children’s Services on proposals associated with the Council’s primary school expansion programme aimed at addressing the high demand for school places in the Borough.

Noted details of the funding that has been secured from the Department of Children, Schools and Families and other sources to support the programme and the procurement arrangements for the works.  Also discussed issues relating to current capacity and demand levels for each of the Borough’s schools and the Corporate Director of Children’s Services undertook to provide Members with the relevant details.

Agreed, in order to assist the Council in achieving its Community Priority ‘Inspired and Successful’ and to fulfil its duty to provide every child in the Borough with a school place, to:

  (i)  The additional sum of £28,306,824 being available for the primary school expansion capital investment programme as detailed in the report;

  (ii)  The outline spending plan for 2010/11 as detailed in Appendix A, and to note the possible additional funding of £1,090,000 from London Thames Gateway Development Corporation;

  (iii)  The proposed procurement route using the Council’s Framework Contractors as detailed in the report;

  (iv)  Authorise the Corporate Director of Children’s Services, in consultation with the Corporate Director of Finance and Commercial Services and Legal Partners, to award the contract for works, each project being progressed as a separate contract; and

  (v)  Note that further reports will be presented as appropriate on the formal expansion of the existing schools and issues relating to the development of the new schools.