Purpose

Proposed decision
 

1)       
Allocate £1.5m of the Children’s, Young
People and Education capital budget to address the issues covered
in the privileged legal advice considered.

 

2)       
Delegate authority to the Director of Infrastructure
to enter into such agreements, on such terms as she approves, with
any relevant parties, in order to support the exercise the
Council’s step in rights and to complete the construction
works.

 

3)       
Delegate authority to the Director of Infrastructure
to be the nominated Authority Representative within the relevant
agreements and to enter into variations as envisaged under any of
these contracts.
 
 
Reason for the decision
 
Chilmington Green Secondary School
opened in September 2023 in temporary accommodation.  The Department for Education (DfE) is delivering
the new school premises, which are due to be operational September
2025.  Issues have arisen which need to
be resolved in order to ensure the new school building occupied.
The legal responsibility for funding the resolution to the issues
is a matter of contention and potential legal dispute.
 
The proposed decision
supports the key priority “Levelling up Kent” within
the ‘Framing Kent’s
Future (2022-26)’.   It helps deliver our commitment to maintain
KCC’s strategic role in supporting schools and settings in
Kent to deliver accessible, high quality education provision for
all families.
 
The proposed decision
supports “Securing
Kent’s Future – budget recovery
strategy”.  It contributes towards delivering the
Service’s MTFP savings target, ensures value for money, and a
sharp focusing of the available resources to delivering the
Council’s statutory duties.
 
 

Decision

As the Deputy Leader (in the absence of the
Leader and Cabinet Member for Education and Skills), I agree
to:
 

1)       
Allocate £1.5m of the Children’s, Young People and
Education capital budget to address the issues covered in the
privileged legal advice considered.

2)       
Delegate authority to the Director of Infrastructure to enter into
such agreements, on such terms as she approves, with any relevant
parties, in order to support the exercise the Council’s step
in rights and to complete the construction works.

3)       
Delegate authority to the Director of Infrastructure to be the
nominated Authority Representative within the relevant agreements
and to enter into variations as envisaged under any of these
contracts.