To approve spend of up to £370,000 pre-construction cost to enable the surrender of a lease to acquire possession of land required to redevelop Brookfield School, start the gas diversion process prior to school redevelopment and re-engage with existing consultants to tender project.

That:

a) spend of up to £370,000 from the Capital Development budget be approved to start the pre-construction tasks needed to commence the Brookfield Special School capital

improvement programme.

b) The Corporate Director, Children and Young People services is authorised, to take all operational decisions relating to the above recommendations including contracts ,and

c) Authority be delegated to the Director of Strategic Assets Delivery to finalise and

complete all necessary deeds of surrender and leases with both the Brookfield School

and the Greyhound Rugby Football Club

Do not agree the spend on pre-construction costs. This is not recommended, this would cause significant delay to the commencement of the Brookfield Special School capital improvement programme, by at least 7 months, which is likely to increase the cost of the project and could put at risk the 70% funding offer, for the project, from the Department of Education (DfE). Council agreed to amend capital program to reflect current funding arrangements at its meeting July meeting.