Decision details

Request to approve:

·  Additional authority to spend on the Learning Places programme for the next phase of the programme;

·  That the balance of the programme risk fund is reset to facilitate effective risk management at programme level.

·  That any savings made on applications to the programme capital risk fund are returned to the risk fund are returned to the risk fund to support continued management of programme risks.

Request to note:

·  The current projected funding deficit.

Further to Minute No. 9, 22^nd June 2016, the Director of Children’s Services, the Deputy Chief Executive and the Director of City Development submitted a joint report presenting an update on the three year strategy for the provision of sufficient school places in the city. The report also provided an update on the progress of those projects currently forming part of the Learning Places Programme and the Social, Emotional & Mental Health (SEMH) Programme; and sought approval for further authority to spend, and also to reset the capital risk fund.

In presenting the report, the Executive Member for Children and Families highlighted the overall deficit in funding which existed in this area.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That ‘Authority to Spend’ on the Learning Places Programme for the ten schemes, as detailed within the submitted report, at a total value of £40.5m, be approved;

(b)  That approval be given for the balance of the programme capital risk fund to be reset from £4.068m to £6.7m, in order to facilitate effective risk management at programme level, whilst approval also be given for the ‘Authority to Spend’ on the increase of £2.632m;

(c)  That it be noted that Children’s Services Projects in 2014 onwards and called off through YORbuild have supported 69 new and existing apprentices and 92 people into employment;

(d)  That the projected funding deficit which currently stands at £84.6m, based on Education Funding Agency rates, be noted, with Members also noting that this is likely to increase due to a number of factors, as set out within the submitted report;

(e)  That it be noted that in the current reporting period there has been one request to access the programme capital risk fund for Hovingham Primary School, totalling £287,868, which was approved in accordance with the Executive Board governance arrangements;

(f)  That it be noted that any savings made from applications on the programme capital risk fund are returned to the risk fund in order to support continued management of programme risks;

(g)  That it be noted that the Head of Learning Systems is responsible for capacity and sufficiency planning of school places and delivery of the Bulge Cohort programme, and that the Chief Officer, Projects, Programmes & Procurement Unit (PPPU) is responsible for the delivery of permanent Learning Places expansion projects once the viability and scope has been agreed between the Schools and Children’s Services.