Purpose

A decision is required in relation to the
release of capital funds from the approved capital budgets
Secondary School Expansion Programme and High Needs Capital
Programme – Future Schemes to permanently expand Colton Hills
Community School from 1 September 2027.

Content

1.            
Approved the allocation of £5.5 million from the approved
capital budgets for Primary and Secondary School Expansion
Programmes for the proposed permanent expansion Colton Hills
Community School.
2.            
Approved the allocation of £600,000 from the approved capital
budget High Needs Capital Programme – Future Schemes for the
proposed SEND Resource Base at Colton Hills Community School.

3.            
Noted, the cost of the permanent
expansion scheme will be met through the existing capital
Primary and Secondary School Expansion Programmes budget. The
current uncommitted funds from the Secondary Expansion Programme
budget are £5.0 million with a further £13.9 million
available in the Primary Expansion Programme. Both budgets are
fully funded from the Basic Need Capital Allocation grant and
therefore there is no need for prudential borrowing

4.            
Noted, the cost of the SEND scheme will be met through the existing
capital High Needs Capital Programme – Future Schemes budget.
This budget is fully funded from the High Needs Provision capital
allocation grant and therefore there is no need for prudential
borrowing. The current funds available from this budget are
£4.6 million.
5.            
Noted, on 22 April 2026, Cabinet will be presented with a report
regarding the proposed SEND Resource Base at Colton Hills Community
School. Approval will be sought to undertake the required statutory
processes including consultation in relation to the SEND Resource
Base.
6.            
Noted,although statutory consultations for the proposed permanent
expansion and SEND Resource Base would not conclude until August
2026 and January 2027 respectively, it was thought prudent to
secure the funding should the outcome of the consultations support
the recommended expansion of the school and implementation of the
SEND Resource Base. This would ensure that delivery of the projects
would not be delayed and that the funding would already be
allocated.
7.            
Should the outcome of the consultations not support the permanent
expansion or SEND Resource Base, then the capital allocations would
be returned to the Secondary School Expansion Programme budget and
High Needs Capital Programme budget to be spent on alternative
projects.