Decision Maker: Executive

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Date of Decision: April 17, 2025

Purpose: To approve capital works and associated funding for schools in North Northampton

Content: RESOLVED KEY DECISION   That the Executive:    Delegated to the Executive Director of Children’s Services, the Director of Law and Governance (Monitoring Officer) and Executive Director of Finance (s151 officer) in consultation with the Executive Member of Children, Families, Education and to take all necessary actions to deliver the projects detailed within this report.    Noted the request contained in the Capital Update Report elsewhere on the agenda for budget approval for the following amounts to be added to the Capital Programme for 2025/26:    ·       Alfred Lord Tennyson School (Alfred Street Campus), additional budget approval for £925k in 2025/26 to be funded from a virement from the Schools Condition Allocation budget, funded by Department of Education Grant.  ·       Tennyson Road site renovations for Rowan Gate Primary School, budget approval for £632k in 2025/26, to be funded £382k from High Needs Grant and £250k from a virement from the Schools Condition Allocation budget, funded by Department of Education Grant.  ·       Latimer Arts College, additional budget approval for £561k in 2025/26, to be funded from a virement from the Schools Condition Allocation budget, funded by Department of Education Grant.  ·       Prince William School Alternative Provision, budget approval for £2.59m in 2025/26, to be funded from High Needs Grant.          Reasons for Recommendations:    a)      The Council’s role as a commissioner of school places, and the capital costs of securing additional school places requires that the strategic planning around school place planning to ensure that processes are transparent and robust.  b)      To ensure that the Council can fulfil its statutory duties in regard to providing sufficiency of school places in North Northamptonshire.  c)      To ensure that the dependency projects of Alfred Lord Tennyson School and Rowan Gate Primary Special School proceed to ensure that the school buildings are suitable and fit for purpose for the amalgamated school Alfred Lord Tennyson School and for Rowan Gate Primary Special School.  d)      The capital scheme at Latimer will provide additional places to meet the demand for secondary school places in Kettering. In recent years a phased project has been in place to address condition issues in the school. To ensure the most effective delivery of the final phase of these condition works and secure additional places it is proposed to combine the two projects, which will secure better value for money.  e)      The Council is facing significant pressures on the High Needs Funding Budget, driven in large part by the limited availability of SEND and Alternative Places Provision across the Council area. The proposed project at Prince William will deliver additional capacity and reduce the need for the Council to commission places with Independent Providers. This will help reduce the pressure on the High Needs Funding Block moving forwards.    Alternative Options Considered: Taking no action was rejected as an option on the basis that the Council has a statutory duty to secure sufficient school places for all school-aged children. In recent years the Council has not had strategic planning and processes around securing new places. New approaches need to be developed to ensure the confidence of Councillors and the sector in decisions made around school place planning.