Agenda item

A report from the Director of Schools and Children’s Services is attached. This sets out proposals for preparing Enfield’s School Kitchens for the introduction of free school meals for pupils under seven and the impact on capital investment. (Key decision – reference number 3889)

(Report No.232)

(8.40 – 8.45pm)

Councillor Ayfer Orhan (Cabinet Member for Children and Young People) introduced the report of the Director of Schools and Children’s Services (No.232) setting out proposals for preparing Enfield’s School Kitchens for the introduction of free school meals for pupils under seven and the impact on capital investment.

NOTED

1.               That whilst supporting the provision of a free school lunch from September 2014 for every child in reception year 1 and year 2 in state-funded schools, the significant funding requirements in order to achieve this were highlighted for Members’ attention, as set out in the report.

2.               A project team had been established to evaluate the Government’s initiative and the review of school facilities, as detailed in paragraph 3.4 of the report. A programme of required works had been identified.

3.               The initial funding to be provided by Central Government as set out in the report. Councillor Orhan highlighted the difficulties that the Council would face should the necessary funding not be made available from the Government in future years. Other options would need to be considered if necessary.

4.               The funding allocations as set out in paragraph 3.3 of the report were not sufficient to meet the cost of the full requirements that had been identified within the Borough.

Alternative Options Considered: In considering potential projects, the Schools and Children’s Services Asset Management Unit had reviewed all primary school kitchens affected by the new legislation and because of the limits on available funding it had been necessary to prioritise certain categories of schemes and defer proposals having lesser priority to arrive at the schools listed in section 3.4 of the report.

DECISION: The Cabinet agreed that approval be given to

1.               The proposed programme of works including professional and technical expenses detailed in Appendix 1 to the report or any other emergency schemes proceeding up to the total Programme value of £3.838m over three years, subject to funding being available.

2.               The Director of Schools and Children’s Services approving tenders through an operational decision for individual schemes of aggregated value up to a maximum of £250,000 including professional and technical expenses.

3.               A portfolio decision being secured to approve tenders for any proposals exceeding £250,000 in value including professional and technical expenses.

4.               The Director of Schools and Children’s Services being authorised to manage the Programme in a flexible way within the overall budget available to take account of variations between estimates and tender costs and the need to substitute schemes having a greater technical priority if the need arises using the tender acceptance report pro forma.

5.               Note the funding of the 2015/16 and 2016/17 programme was dependent on future years’ capital grant allocations from Central Government that had not yet been confirmed and should these not be forthcoming there would be insufficient funds to complete the works at Eldon. Officers would need to review the funding strategy and bring a further report to Cabinet for approval to proceed.

Reason: To enable work to be commissioned on kitchen works in schools for 2014/15 and meet the requirements of the Central Government UISFM (universal infant free school meals) initiative.

(Key decision – reference number 3889)