To approve the proposed expenditure of capital grants for schools building, maintenance and accessibility improvement works.

The cabinet member children and families introduced the item. She noted that:

·         funding was allocated annually from central government;

·         the report set out the proposal to spend £1.535 on maintenance projects and £120k on schemes for individual pupil needs in the 2019/20 financial year as listed in the appendix to the report;

·         maintenance at academies and voluntary aided schools was funded via different routes;

·         the current set of condition surveys had informed the priority projects alongside information on admission of pupils with particular access requirements;

·         a new set of condition surveys of school had been commissioned with work planned to be complete by summer of 2019, these would inform decision on future programmes;

·         consultation had taken place with schools through the capital strategy consultative group;

·         a contingency sum would be kept back for emergency works arising during the year.

In discussion of the item cabinet members noted:

·         it was important to secure best value, even from the smaller items of work;

·         funding was provided through a capital grant from government;

·         the trust schools included in the proposed project for 2019/20 were not academy schools and were eligible to benefit from this funding;

·         maintenance was a continuous requirement.

Group leaders were invited to give the views of their group. It was stated that:

·         maintenance requirements of modern buildings could be the same or more than older buildings;

·         opportunities should be sought to include renewable energy generation and invest to save schemes in projects and to use energy efficient materials and designs to reduce future running costs;

·         the impact of housing development at Credenhill on the local school needed to be mitigated.

Resolved that:

(a)       the school capital and maintenance schemes as set out in appendix 1 be approved for implementation in 2019/20; and

(b)       the Assistant Director Education Development and Skills be authorised to take all operational decisions necessary to implement the approved schemes within an approved budget of £1.535m for maintenance and £120k for individual pupil needs.