To approve the planned programme of maintenance work at local authority maintained schools to voluntary aided and designated trust schools.

The government grants the council three separate funding streams for capital works to schools: maintenance, basic need and LCVAP. Maintenance grants can only be spent on local authority maintained and voluntary controlled schools; LCVAP can only be applied to voluntary aided schools; and basic need grant is accessible by all schools. There should be an open and transparent approach to the amounts of funding received and its expenditure, which this report provides. Academy and free schools have access to the education funding agencies condition improvement fund for building works, both maintenance and improvements.

In preparing the schools capital investment strategy, approved by cabinet 11^th February 2016 a significant a backlog of urgent and essential maintenance works at local authority maintained, voluntary controlled and voluntary aided schools was identified. Using the available information on the condition of schools there has been a prioritisation process involving school staff, head teachers and property professionals. The key priorities have been linked to fire risks and health and safety and accessibility with additional consideration given to major disruptions to the education of the school, where for example it may have to be closed.  There has been detail and consensual approach to ensure work to address the poorest condition items in schools has been appropriately prioritised