Decision details

This report will bring outline the work that has been undertaken in relation to the investment of Capital provision of Special School places and seek permission to progress further with detailed engagement and planning to include undertaking detailed technical feasibility work.

1)    That approval be given for the development, design, tendering and construction of a new SEMH special school building on the Deighton site as detailed in the report with an indicative budget of £15m;

2)    That approval be given for the development, design, tendering and construction of a new C&I / Autism special school building on the site of the Almondbury site as detailed in the report with an indicative budget of £21m;

3)    That approval be given to remove the Almondbury site from the PPP1 Contract and delegate authority to the Service Director for Legal, Governance and Commissioning and the Service Director for Development, in conjunction with the Service Director for Finance, to agree to enter into negotiations with Kirklees School Services Limited to agree a Deed of Variation to the Project Agreement and authorise the Service Director Legal ,Governance and Commissioning (or authorised representatives) to enter into and execute on behalf of the Council any appropriate legal agreements ,contracts , instruments and certificates under the Local Government ( Contracts ) Act 1997 relating to the removal of Almondbury High School from the Grouped Schools PPP1 contract , subject to it remaining within the affordability parameters broadly set out in the public report and private appendix 2;

4)    That authority be delegated to the Service Director for Legal, Governance and Commissioning and the Service Director for Development, in conjunction with the Service Director for Finance, to enter into negotiations to secure the removal of the telecommunications masts in accordance with the lease(s) or by agreement with the mast providers/tenants to agree the appropriate legal and contractual lease termination and enter into and execute any legal contracts, agreements or instruments on behalf of the Council;

5)    That the current capital plan outline approval for this scheme of £28m be noted and that approval be given to the revised outline £36m allocation requirement being incorporated into updated capital plans to Budget Council in February 2022, and on the assumption of potential for external funding options to be explored as part of this outline uplift, officers will report back to Cabinet as appropriate, as costings and funding opportunities become clearer over the next 9-12 months as part of scheme development;

6)    That authority be given, at an appropriate time, for officers to undertake the required non-statutory consultation for the proposed changes to Woodley School and College, working closely with the Governing Body of the school, and prepare a consultation outcome report to be presented back to Cabinet;

7)    That authority be given for officers to work with Wellspring Multi Academy Trust, providing the support required for them to undertake a local consultation on their proposed changes to Joseph Norton Academy.