Decision details

Design and cost report and Tender Acceptance for the bulge expansion of Allerton Grange School for September 2020

Reference: D50894

Decision Maker: Director of Children and Families

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: No

Purpose:

Request for authority to spend and tender acceptance to remodel and refurbish the former CLC on Allerton Grange School site to accommodate general teaching spaces for 6th form in order to facilitate a bulge cohort of 60 additional pupils in the main school building from September 2020.

Decision:

  • Approval of the expenditure of £2,151,200.80 from capital scheme number for the construction work and associated fees necessary to remodel and refurbish the former CLC on Allerton Grange School site to accommodate general teaching spaces for 6th form, in order to facilitate a bulge cohort of 60 additional pupils in the main school building from September 2020.
  • Authorisation to proceed with acceptance of the tender submitted via the Leeds Local Education Partnership in the sum of £2,078,700.80 inclusive of all professional design fees incurred by the appointed contractor, development costs and surveys incurred by the contractor. Release of funding for the construction costs will be subject to valuations completed and validated by NPS Ltd Leeds.
  • Authorisation of the requirement to enter into a contractual agreement with Leeds D&B One Ltd to deliver the development at Allerton Grange School. This will take the form of a JCT 2016 head contract between the authority and Leeds D&B One Ltd for the sum of £2,078,700.80
  • Note that the officer responsible for implementation is the Head of Service Learning Systems and the Head of Projects and Programmes, Asset Management & Regeneration and authorise them as a signatory of all other contract related documentation that is required to deliver the project.
  • This decision is taken under the general exception provision and not subject to call in. The current Covid-19 pandemic places additional constraints on certainty to maintain programme and meet delivery for September 2020. Bringing the programme start date forward to the earliest possible date provides an opportunity to commence while schools are not fully operational and facilitates changed working practice under social distance measures which, alongside potential limited resource capacity, will lengthen delivery timescales. Any failure to deliver on this site would have a wider impact on the demand for school places across the city which are already under pressure. 

 

Reason Key: Financial Impact>£500K;

Wards Affected: Roundhay;

If the decision has not been published in the List of Forthcoming Key Decisions for at least 28 clear days, the reason why it would be impracticable to delay the decision:: Approval of this report and contract award represent the critical path for the project and are therefore essential to ensure completion in accordance with requirement to meet delivery of places for September 2020. In order to deliver the required accommodation in time for commencement of the 2020/21 academic year the works detailed within this report have been procured under the Strategic Partnering Agreement (SPA) between the Leeds Local Education Partnership (LLEP) and Leeds City Council. The associated procurement rules applied to this process has been adhered to. The exclusive supplier arrangements, detailed under CPR 3.1.5, have been invoked in this instance. Construction contracts developed through the SPA are delivered by Leeds D & B one Ltd who are to appoint Interserve Construction Ltd as subcontractor for this project. Interserve Construction Ltd are the service providers to the PFI building which forms the main part of the school campus, and while the former CLC building

If exempt from Call-In, the reason why Call-In would prejudice the interests of the Council or the public:: Approval of this report and contract award represent the critical path for the project and are therefore essential to ensure completion in accordance with requirement to meet delivery of places for September 2020. The current Covid-19 pandemic has placed additional pressures in being able to deliver any construction works with limitations and restrictions on available resources and capacity. The Covid-19 measures places additional constraints on certainty to maintain programme and meet delivery for September 2020. While works of this nature would in normal circumstances be constrained by access outside of term time, it is essential to begin works at the earliest possible time in order to mitigate the risk of not meeting September 2020 completion dates. Bringing the programme start date forward to the earliest possible date provides an opportunity to commence while schools are not fully operational and facilitates changed working practice under social distance measures which, alongsi

Portfolio Holder: The Executive Member for Learning, Skills & Employment

Other reasons / organisations consulted

A bulge cohort of 60 year 7 pupils is being accepted at the school for September 2020. Bulge increases of pupil numbers do not require any formal statutory consultation process.

A formal proposal to permanently expand the school from September 2021 is currently subject to a separate statutory consultation process, the final outcome of which is to be determined by Executive Board in June 2020.

The works to accommodate the temporary bulge for September 2020 are separate to any expansion works which would be required following approval of proposals to permanently expand the school. The decision for the works to support the bulge cohort should not and will not prejudice the statutory consultation process and decision for any permanent change.

The required works for the bulge cohort are internal remodelling and refurbishment of an existing building to bring it back into use and will not be subject to a planning application or approval.

Ward member briefings will be made following agreement of design with the school.

Consultees

Ward members will be briefed on the final proposals following agreement of the layout with the school leadership team.

Contact: Jacqueline Robertson, Project Manager 07891 279138 Email: jacqueline.robertson@leeds.gov.uk.

Publication date: 18/05/2020

Date of decision: 27/05/2020

Accompanying Documents: