To renew the contract for the schools budget planning software for use by local authority maintained schools under the de-delegation funding arrangements approved by Schools Forum.

That:

(a)       The contract with the Access Group for the school budget planning software is renewed for the two year period from 1^st April 2020 at a cost of £55,168 +VAT in accordance with the terms set out in the government’s G-Cloud 11 framework contract;

(b)       To note that the contract cost is fully met by schools under the de-delegation arrangements approved by Schools Forum;

(c)       Options for extending the contract for a further one or two years be considered in December 2021.

1.         No alternative suppliers were identified on the government’s G-Cloud 11 Framework contract as meeting the requirements of schools.

2.         The alternative to the council purchasing the software on behalf of schools through a G-Cloud 11 framework is that schools would have to purchase the software individually if they wish to continue to use the software. This would be at least twice the cost of the G-Cloud contract as the published price for individual scjool purcahses is significantly higher than the G-Cloud framework price. Additionally, the de-delegated funding would have to be returned to schools and the reasons for not purchasing through G-Cloud explained to Schools Forum. Paying twice the price of the G-Cloud contract would e difficult to justify and could lead to reputational damage to the council.