Decision Maker:

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: Yes

Date of Decision: September 23, 2025

Purpose:

Content: RESOLVED:   That Cabinet approves the strategy and total Capital Funding approved by Full Council budget setting in February 2025 reflected as a total of £91.6m budget in the Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) for the Council’s School Basic Need Capital Programme for 2025/26 to 2027/28, as identified in Part 2 of this report. That Cabinet notes the impact of increased construction costs, enabling committed and planned schools’ projects to be delivered with the approved budget allocation for Schools Basic Need. That Cabinet notes the reconciliation of Department for Education (DfE) School Basic Need Grant allocation offset of £10.9m from Transport Development Planning-held Section 106 sums against the programme. That Cabinet approves the delegation of authority to allocate resources from the approved School Basic Need budget required for individual projects to the Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Lifelong Learning, following Capital Property Panel’s (CPP) financial scrutiny and endorsement. This is in line with Full Council approved amended Financial Regulations. That Cabinet approves the delegation of authority to approve budget variations required for individual projects +/-10% to Capital Programme Panel only and budget variations over 10% to the s.151 Officer, Executive Director and Cabinet Member of Children, Families and Lifelong Learning. That Cabinet approves delegated authority to the Director or Assistant Director(s) of Land & Property to authorise the Council to enter into all associated licences and agreements required to facilitate the capital works.   Reason for Decisions:   The paper outlines the strategy for the provision of additional mainstream school places within the Mid Term Financial Strategy 2025/26 for school basic need. This takes account of the latest cost estimates and forecast needs for pupil places.   This paper reconciles the Basic Need grant, and third-party contributions spend to date, as at year end 2024/25, and the next five-year projected capital spend for education project delivery.   The recommendations update the financial delegations and authorities required to support the agile nature of the programme and ability to maintain delivery momentum, whilst maintaining sufficient financial scrutiny and accountability.   (The decisions on this item can be called-in by the Children, Families, Lifelong Learning & Culture Select Committee)