Decision details

Councillor B Posnett left during consideration of this item and did not return.

The Committee considered the report on the Children and Families Capital Programme – School Condition Programme 2025/26.

It was noted that there was a typo on page 348 paragraph 16, which should read ‘Do nothing and not progress the school condition programme’.

Officers would bring updates to committee on schemes as required.

Members raised questions in respect of

·       Had RAC had been identified in any buildings

·       whether wider use of S106 money could be discussed with planning colleagues

·       Was there any funding to put fire suppressors in as part of the projects which were having roofing work undertaken?

Officers reported that

·       RAC had not been found in any of the Council’s maintained schools.

·       Discussions had taken place with planning colleagues in respect of the use of S106 monies, but there were restrictions in terms of policy and DfE recommendations.

·       Colleagues in facilities management would go out and review schools if needed, but there was an overall programme to look at any fire related issues.

RESOLVED: (Unanimously)

That the Children and Families Committee

1. Approve the School Condition Programme of schemes as detailed in Appendix 1.

2. Delegate authority to the Executive Director of Children’s Services to approve uplifts to Project Costs of schemes approved in the School Condition Programme (and the updates received during the financial year) to a maximum of 20% of the approved capital budget, this will ensure that schemes will be progressed in a timely way and to provide updates to committee as required. Where the decision process includes financials or contracts, this will be done in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer, Monitoring Officer and the Executive Director of Place.

3. Delegate authority to the Executive Director of Children’s Services to determine the school sites and works to be instructed from the block funding allocations set out in Appendix 1 and take all steps to deliver these works. Where the decision process includes financials or contracts, this will be done in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer, Monitoring Officer and the Executive Director of Place.