Decision details

Following approval of the statutory process, Allerton C of E Primary School is due to expand to three forms of entry with effect from September 2019.  This request seeks to outline the proposed construction project necessary to ensure there is sufficient accommodation at the school to support the increase in pupil numbers.  This report will seek approval to spend, acceptance of the tender and permission to enter into the full construction contract. 

Further to Minute No. 161, 21^st March 2018, the Director of City Development and the Director of Children and Families submitted a joint report detailing proposals to expand Allerton Church of England Primary School and which sought the necessary approvals to progress this proposal.

Responding to a Member’s enquiry, the Board received further information on the timing of the report submission to Executive Board, with it being noted that the proposed timeframe for the expansion was for it to be operational from September 2019.

Following the consideration of Appendix B to the submitted report designated as exempt from publication under the provisions of Access to Information Procedure Rule 10.4(3), which was considered in private at the conclusion of the meeting, it was

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the expenditure of £4,696,805.64 from capital scheme number 32655/ACE/000 for the construction work and associated fees for the expansion of Allerton Church of England Primary School, necessary for occupation from September 2019, be approved;

(b)  That the acceptance of the tender submitted via the Leeds Local Education Partnership in the sum of £3,846,842.89 inclusive of all professional design fees, development costs and surveys incurred by the contractor, be authorised, with it also being noted that although this figure includes the previously approved sum of £492,929.56 for the completion of the necessary ‘Early Works’ packages, the release of funding for the construction costs will be subject to valuations completed and validated by NPS Ltd. (Leeds);

(c)  That the requirement to enter into a contractual agreement with Leeds D&B One Co. to deliver the development at Allerton Church of England Primary School, be authorised, which will take the form of a JCT 2016 head contract between the authority and Leeds D&B One Ltd. for the sum of £3,846,842.89;

(d)  That approval be given for the resolutions, as minuted, from this report to be exempted from the ‘Call-In’ process, on the grounds of urgency, as detailed within section 4.5 of the submitted report;

(e)  That the estimated scheme cost of £4,696,805.64 be noted, with it also being noted that this includes: £3,846,842.89 for construction works (this is the contract / tender submission value inclusive of £492,929.56 of previously approved ‘Early Works’ costs); professional fees and survey costs of £391,571; £30,000 for loose furniture & equipment; £43,707 for supporting costs and a client held contingency commensurate to the scale and complexity of the project;

(f)  That it be noted that the officer(s) responsible for the implementation of such matters are: the Head of Service Learning Systems and the Head of Projects and Programmes, Asset Management & Regeneration, with approval being given to provide them with the necessary authority to enter into all other agreements required to deliver this project.

(The Council’s Executive and Decision Making Procedure Rules state that a decision may be declared as being exempt from the Call In process if it is considered that any delay would seriously prejudice the Council’s, or the public’s interests. In line with this, the resolutions contained within this minute were exempted from the Call In process, as per resolution (d) above, and for the reasons as detailed within section 4.5 of the submitted report)

The formal proposal to expand the school was subject to a separate statutory consultation process.  The required construction project arising from this has been subject to separate consultation with the parties noted below.  Ward member briefings have taken place prior to planning being submitted, further to this a multiple pre-planning drop-in sessions were held at the school for parents, carers and local residents.

The proposal to expand Allerton C of E Primary School has been subject to the following consultees; Executive Member for Learning, Skills and Employment, Alwoodley Ward Members, Leeds City Council Planning Department (including landscape & urban design), Allerton High School and their PFI provider, Leeds City Council Highways Department, Leeds City Council Asset Management Department, Staff at the existing school, local residents in the affected wards, the Diocese and parents an carers.