Purpose

Proposed
decision –That the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, be asked
to:
 

1)   
APPROVE the Allocation of further funding from the
Children’s, Young People and Education capital budgets to
enable building issues to be rectified at Whitfield Aspen Primary
School (Richmond Way site), Dover.

2)   
APPROVE the provision of temporary accommodation
arrangements subject to requirement as set out in the
report.

3)   
DELEGATE authority to the Director of Infrastructure
in consultation with the Director of Education and SEND, the
General Counsel/Head of Law (or other officer with delegated
authority) , in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Education
and Skills, to enter
into any negotiations, and contracts or contract variations
that may be required.

4)   
DELEGATE authority to the Director of Infrastructure
to be the nominated Authority Representative within the relevant
contractual agreements and to enter into such variations as envisaged under
any of these contracts.
 
Reason for the decision
 
In May 2016 it was agreed to
expand Whitfield Aspen Primary School (Dover) on to a satellite
site at Richmond Way (Decision Number 16/00032). Since the building
has been occupied, a
number of buildings issues have been identified which need
addressing.
 
Options (other options considered but discarded)

 
The alternative
options available to the Council to ensure the safe running of the
school and protect KCC’s position will be outlined in the
exempt report.
 
How the
proposed decision supports the
Framing Kent's Future
- Our Council Strategy 2022-2026
 
The proposed decision
supports priorities one and two of Framing Kent’s
Future:
 
Commitment under priority one – Levelling up
Kent:

·               
To maintain KCC’s strategic role in supporting
schools in Kent to deliver accessible, high quality education
provision for all families.
Commitments under priority two – Infrastructure for
communities:

·               
Through our ‘Infrastructure First’
commitment we seek to ensure that new development provides the
appropriate physical and social infrastructure necessary to support
new and existing communities’ quality of life.

·               
To help all Kent’s communities benefit from
having a strong social fabric which underpins family, community,
and personal resilience.
 
How the
proposed decision supports Securing Kent’s Future 2022
-2026:
Securing Kents Future
- Budget Recovery Strategy.pdf
 
The proposed decision
is compliant with objective 3 of Securing Kent’s Future
– the Council has made a policy choice to secure the
expansion of the school on the Richmond Way site. This is
supporting the Council to discharge its statutory responsibility of
ensuring all children have access to a school place.
 
 

Decision

As Cabinet Member
for Education and Skills, I agree to:
 
1)   
APPROVE the allocation of up to a total of £5.3m from either
the Children’s, Young People or Education capital and revenue
budgets, as appropriate, to enable building issues to be rectified
at Whitfield Aspen Primary School (Richmond Way site),
Dover.
 
2)   
APPROVE the provision of temporary accommodation arrangements
subject to requirement as set out in the
report.
 
3)   
DELEGATE authority to the Director of Infrastructure in
consultation with the Director of Education and SEND, the General
Counsel/Head of Law (or other officer with delegated authority) and
the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, to enter into any
negotiations, and contracts or contract variations that may be
required.
 
4)   
DELEGATE authority to the Director of Infrastructure to be the
nominated Authority Representative within the relevant contractual
agreements and to enter into such variations as envisaged under any
of these contracts.