Decision details

Executive Board is requested to approve:

1. additional authority to spend on the basic need programme which comprises three schemes with a total value of £14.1m.  This increases the overall approval of the schemes in the programme to £67.1m.
2. delegation of the approval of design and cost reports for the new tranche of schemes to the Director of Children’s Services, subject to the agreement of the Director of City Development and the Deputy Chief Executive in consultation with the Executive Members and reports open to scrutiny by Members. This is consistent with the programme approach and governance arrangements approved by Executive Board in September 2014.
3. that the balance of the programme risk fund £8,975,570 is maintained, to facilitate effective risk management at programme level.

Further to minute 63 of the meeting held 17^th September 2014, the Executive Board considered a joint report submitted by the Deputy Chief Executive and the Directors of Children’s Services and City Development providing an update on the progress of the Basic Need Programme. The report also sought approval for further authority to spend on the programme and included an update on applications made and approved for access to the programme contingency fund and indicated areas in which schemes were in development in relation to Basic Need.

The report highlighted that, since implementation of the programme approach in September 2014, the programme had successfully delivered £34.6m of investment into 11 schemes. A further 17 schemes totalling an investment of £52m were on programme to deliver in 2015. The report outlined the 20 current Basic Need Programme active schemes, including the three schemes proposed to be injected into the programme (Castleton, Gledhow and Hollybush Primary Schools).

In considering the report, Members noted the work undertaken citywide to identify possible solutions to satisfy the need for further places and to anticipate the pressures on a number of areas which will require a significant number of expansion or new school projects across primary, secondary and specialist provision; whilst it was acknowledged that infrastructure provision remained a key factor when considering future development across the city.

RESOLVED –

a)  That the additional authority to spend on the basic need programme a total of £14.3m for the next phase of the programme which increases the overall approval of the schemes in the programme to £67.3m. be approved

b)  That the delegation of the approval of design and cost reports for the new tranche of schemes to the Director of Children’s Services be approved, subject to the agreement of the Director of City Development and the Deputy Chief Executive in consultation with the Executive Members and reports open to scrutiny by Members. This being consistent with the programme approach and governance arrangements approved by Executive Board in September 2014.

c)  That the balance of the programme risk fund £8,975,570 be maintained, to facilitate effective risk management at programme level.

d)  To note that the current projected funding deficit which currently stands at £36.6m and that this is likely to increase due to rising construction costs.

e)  To note that the Head of Service, Strategic Development and Investment continues to have client responsibility for the programme and the Chief Officer, Public Private Partnerships and Procurement Unit continues to be responsible for the delivery of the projects in the programme.

N/A