Decision details

Resolved:-

(1)          that approval be given to the allocation of £1,264,000 from the Department of Education’s (DfE) High Needs Provision Capital Allocation to extension works to The Brades Lodge, Shenstone Lodge School, Lower City Road, Tividale, Oldbury, West Midlands B69 2HA as part of the Schools Capital Programme 2023-26;

(2)          that subject to (1) above, in accordance with the council’s Procurement and Contract Procedure Rules – July 2022, the Director of Children’s Services and Education be authorised to award a contract to Seddon Construction Limited to deliver the construction works, following a compliant procurement exercise, in conjunction with the Section 151 Officer, and in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education;

(3)          that subject to (1) and (2) above, the Director of Law and Governance and Monitoring Officer be authorised to enter into any legal agreements on terms agreed by the Director of Children’s Services and Education as required, to complete the extension works at the school;

(4)          that, in connection with (1) and (2) above, the following actions identified within the appraisal report be  implemented to avoid exposure to significant risks in achieving objectives:

a.    that cost estimates are reviewed for reasonableness and to ensure that additional costs could be managed within the allocated funding;

b.    that the project plan is reviewed to ensure that delivery can be achieved within agreed timescales and will not result in additional costs in providing alternative school accommodation;

c.    that the corporate risk register is reviewed to ensure that all risks are appropriately identified and assessed, with adequate mitigation;

d.    that the post project evaluation includes specific outcomes, along with benchmarking of final costs to assess value for money.