Cllr Abdul Abdullahi (Cabinet Member for Children’s Services) introduced the report of the Executive Director – People, setting out the detailed and strategic delivery plan for the continuation of the annual People’s Directorate Schools Capital Programme 2024/25 – 2025/26, for inclusion in the Council’s 10-year Capital Programme. The investments in maintenance and improvements to the schools’ estate and in additional Special Education Needs (SEN) pupil places were highlighted.
In response to Members’ queries, it was confirmed that almost 300 new SEN places were to be created in Enfield, and this would assist longer term objectives and reduction in spending on transport costs.
Members had noted the budget information in the restricted appendix to the report.
DECISION: The Cabinet agreed to:
I. Provide ‘approval to spend’ for the £19.74m revised schools’ 2024/25 capital budget as detailed in restricted Appendix A (subject to Council approval of revised capital budget KD 5744 elsewhere on this meeting agenda).
II. Approve the strategic objectives as set out in the report.
III. Give approval to commence the delivery of projects detailed in restricted Appendix ‘A’ to allow tenders to be pursued in compliance with the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules.
IV. Note that the £19.74m revised schools’ capital budget includes a £0.5m contingency budget for urgent works and / or new schemes not yet identified as priority works.
V. Note that the 2024/25 capital programme is funded from DfE capital grant, assumed education s106 contributions and ringfenced capital receipts.
VI. Delegate authority to the Lead Member for Children’s Services to:
a. Approve the procurement and award of works and services contracts for the SEN projects which are over £0.5m including professional and technical expenses as detailed in restricted Appendix ‘A’ given their strategic importance for delivering SEN places to address the increasing demand.
b. Approve the award of works contracts over £5m for all condition related projects, decarbonisation projects and works resulting from the sale of Caretaker Houses.
VII. Delegate authority to Executive Director of People to:
a. Approve the award of works contracts up £5m for all condition related projects, decarbonisation projects and works resulting from the sale of Caretaker Houses.
b. Approve the award of works contracts up £0.5m for any SEN projects.
c. Add urgent projects to the programme funded from the approved contingency (total £0.5m).
VIII. Delegate authority to Executive Director of Resources or the Executive Director of People to accept any future funding rounds from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) or Low Carbon Skills Fund (LCSF) and to add this to the Schools Capital Programme.
IX. Note and authorise applications to the Department for Education (DfE) for Secretary of State consent in respect of any disposal or repurposing of the vacant caretakers / site managers properties.
X. Note Cabinet’s previous approval (KD 5373) of the approach in relation to the disposal or repurposing of the vacant caretaker properties, allocating income generated to support the delivery of SEN provision as a strategic priority as well as undertaking works at each individual school.
The report sets out the options considered, if any, and the reasons for the recommendations and the decision.