The Corporate Director Education and Family Support presented a report seeking Cabinet approval for the procurement strategy for the design and build of the replacement school; seeking Cabinet approval to proceed with the procurement process;  advising Cabinet that they would be presented with a future report regarding the outcome of an options appraisal in respect of Social Services and Wellbeing Directorate’s residential and respite provision; and advising Cabinet that they would be presented with a future report prior to awarding the main construction contract, which set out the position regarding project costs and budget.

The Corporate Director Education and Family Support provided the background to the proposals and then explained the current situation and outlined the various options. He explained that during the design development stage for the replacement school, officers from the Social Services and Wellbeing Directorate would work with the Education and Family Support Directorate to consider costed options to relocate the residential and respite service alongside the replacement school. The outcome of this process would be reported to a future Cabinet meeting. As the design and build would be a two-stage process, minimal costs in terms of design would be incurred and there would be no commitment to go through to the second stage. He reminded Cabinet that the Corporate Landlord Department was in the process of acquiring the Island Farm site for the proposed school. It was important to note that there was an element of risk in respect of this process. Should this transaction not proceed, this matter would be reported to a future Cabinet meeting and approval would be sought to abandon the proposal as published. Notwithstanding the above, it was the Board’s recommendation that the design process for the replacement school commences and runs concurrently with concluding the site transaction process.

The Corporate Director Education and Family Support outlined the financial implications and concluded that any abortive design fees/costs associated with the development would have to be funded by Council revenue budgets. He explained that the financial implications were set out in the report.

The Cabinet Member for Education thanked the Corporate Director Education and officers for the report. He stated that this was the largest capital expenditure this Council had ever taken on and was a massive undertaking. Having moved the previous report it was for them to make sure the school was ready for students as soon as possible.

The Deputy Leader added that having met the current residents of Harwood House, the accommodation was limiting. There would be an increase in demand for this facility and having it all together meant there could be more integration of services. 

The Leader could see that they had obviously had to carefully consider the significant impact of inflationary pressures in the construction industry, whereas on previous projects they had more stable prices. This was a fair and transparent way of identifying additional costs as they arose and he was supportive of this type of procurement.

RESOLVED:       Cabinet:

·      approved the preferred procurement strategy as set out in paragraphs 4.2, 4.3 and 4.16 in respect of the appointment of a design team and main contractor for Heronsbridge School;

·      gave approval to proceed with the procurement process;

·      noted that Cabinet would be presented with a future report regarding the outcome of the options appraisal in respect of Social Services and Wellbeing Directorate’s residential and respite provision; and

·      noted that Cabinet would be presented with a future report prior to awarding the main construction contract which set out the position regarding project costs and budget.