Issue - meetings

 Report by Terence Herbert, Corporate Director

Councillor Laura Mayes present the report which asked Cabinet to agree the Schools Capital Programme for 2018 – 2021.

Matters highlighted in the course of the presentation and discussion included: the duties of the council and the impact of the army rebasing programme; the short and longer term needs addressed in the programme; the progress made in previously approved schemes; and how the schemes are prioritised and funding.

In response to a question raised by Councillor John Hubbard, Councillor Laura Mayes confirmed that whilst there were no current plans for items such as additional SEND resources spaces this did not exclude the possibility of there being future plans to include them.

Resolved

1.          To note the progress on previously approved schemes at Appendix A

2.          To consider and approve the new Basic Need schemes subject to planning approval and completed S106 agreements requiring a total Basic Need contribution of £1.530m as outlined at Appendix B.

3.          To approve the Schools Planned Maintenance Programme totalling £2.5m for 2018/19 as outlined at Appendix C.

4.          To authorise the Corporate Director for Children Services to invite and evaluate tenders for the projects described in this report, and, following consultation with the Cabinet member, to award the contract for the project (subject to approval of any necessary statutory proposals) and to authorise, in consultation with the Head of Strategic Asset & FM (or the Asset Portfolio Manager (Estates), in accordance with the relevant scheme of sub-delegation (under paragraph 7 of Part 3B of Wiltshire Council’s constitution)), the acquisition of all land (and the completion of any legal documentation) reasonably required in order to facilitate the Schools Capital Investment Programme.

Reason for decision:

The Council has a statutory duty to provide sufficient school places to meet the demand arising across Wiltshire, whether from demographic or population change, strategic housing development growth or the Army Re-Basing programme. The approved Wiltshire School Places Strategy 2017- 2022 and its Implementation Plan identifies the priority basic need schemes requiring capital investment in the short, medium and longer term and these latest proposals for inclusions in the Schools Capital Programme will enable the priority works to be progressed. The Council also has Landlord responsibilities for the effective management and maintenance of the schools (for which the Council is responsible) estate and the approved programme will enable urgent and priority repairs and maintenance projects to proceed.