The Cabinet considered a report of the Corporate Director for People on the above.

Recommended:-

1. That the acquisition of sites A and B as set out in the submitted report (and in appendices 2 and 3) be proceeded with (having noted the conclusion and reconfiguration works required) and that the Corporate Director for People be authorised, in consultation with the Head of Finance and Resources and the Portfolio Holder for Education, to deal with any amendments to the terms arising through negotiations.

2. That an application to the Secretary of State for Education be proceeded with for the appropriation of site C, as identified in the submitted report, from education use for alternative purposes.

3.That the existing £10m budget for school places be re-profiled as set out in section 8.2 of the submitted report.

4. That it be noted that at a cost of £2.5m to £4.5m per form of entry, the requirement of 10 forms of entry across existing secondary schools is likely to cost between 25m and 45m up to 2021 (the range of cost is wide to reflect the very different circumstances and build/reconfiguration requirements and specific costs will not be known until specific opportunities are identified and costed in detail).

5. That it be noted that the additional estimated cost for secondary school places will need to be considered in the relevant capital programme reviews as part of setting the Council’s annual budget.

6. That is be noted that the proposed acquisitions provide the opportunity to save significant capital investment by acquiring existing sites rather than building new or extending existing schools.

Reason for Decision

As set out in the submitted report.

Other Options

As set out in the submitted report.

Note:- This is a Council Function

Eligible for call-in to People Scrutiny Committee

Executive Councillor:- Cllr Jones