Decision Maker: Cabinet

Outcome: Recommendations Approved (subject to call-in)

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Date of Decision: December 10, 2025

Purpose: Cabinet to approve the updated Schools Capital Programme following KD 5856, give approval to spend the capital budget, agree to proceed to delivery and delegate authority for the award contracts for the works, services and goods.

Content: DECISION: The Cabinet agreed   Give approval for the Updated Schools Capital Programme 2025/26 - 2027/28 as set out in the report and Restricted Appendix A. Give approval to revised spend of £13.4m for the schools’ 2025/26 capital budget as detailed in restricted Appendix A. Give approval to commit a revised total spend of £29.1m over 2025/26 to 2027/28 as detailed in restricted Appendix A. Give approval to commence the delivery of additional projects as highlighted in green in Restricted Appendix ‘A’ to allow tenders to be pursued in compliance with the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules. Delegate authority to Executive Director of People to: A.    Approve the award of works and services contracts up to the value of £5m including professional and technical expenses as detailed in Restricted Appendix ‘A’ and those projects added to the programme as below. B.    Add and omit projects to the programme from the approved contingency budgets subject to the total spend being contained within the approved £29.1m or in the case of additional funding being approved as VII below, to add additional projects to the revised value of the programme.   Delegate authority to the Lead Member for Children’s Services to approve the award of works and services contracts over the value of £5m including professional and technical expenses as detailed in Restricted Appendix ‘A’. Delegate authority to the Executive Director of People in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer to accept any additional in year funding that is secured, to add this to the Schools Capital Programme and increase the total approved budget accordingly. Note the risk of that the two proposed SEN schools may not be delivered through the SEN Wave Programme and should these not progress, give approval   A.    To take forward the Addison House project by preparing a feasibility study for the Council to deliver SEN satellite provision. B.    To undertake feasibility studies, options appraisal and associated work to identify appropriate sites for the development of large scale SEN provision.     IX.         Gives approval for £250k of funding to be taken from capital receipts generated from the sale of vacant Caretaker Houses and to be used to fund feasibility studies as revenue expenditure.