That:

a)    Feasibility studies and surveys for The Brookfield School, Blackmarston and the Hereford Pupil Referral Service are commissioned within an approved budget of £52K from the 2021/22 high needs capital grant; and

b)    The Service Director for Education, Development and Skills be authorised to take all operational decisions necessary to deliver the required schedule of feasibility studies within the approved budget of £57.2k including fees.

Do nothing:  this is not recommended as cabinet approved a Herefordshire Capital Investment Strategy 2021-2030 For Specialist Settings Educating Children and Young People with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) on 22 April 2021.  The strategy was developed to avoid unnecessary reactive spending on accommodation maintenance, and mitigate the risk of a reduction in the quality of education and a lack of pupil places for SEND children and young people with education health and care plans.  Subject to feasibility studies, the high needs capital grant provides the opportunity to undertake work to improve the capacity and learning environment in the special educational needs specialist settings