Agenda item - Addition to Education Capital Resources and Capital Investment Programme 2015/2016

Report of the Executive Director, Children’s Services (copy attached).

1)           That the level of available capital resources totalling £18.383 million for investment relating to education buildings financed from capital grant, revenue contributions and reserves set aside for primary places be noted.

2)           That Committee agree the allocation of this additional £1.903 million as shown in Appendices 1 and 2 and recommend this to Policy & Resources Committee on 11^th June 2015 for inclusion within the council’s Capital Investment Programme 2015/16.

3)           That Committee agree to the allocation of the £686,410 in respect of Universal infant Free School Meals funding as shown in Appendix 4 and recommend this to Policy & Resources Committee on 11^th June 2015 for inclusion within the council’s Capital Investment Programme 2015/16.

4)           That Committee agree to recommend to Policy & Resources Committee that they grant delegated authority to the Assistant Director of Property & Design to procure the capital maintenance and basic need works and enter into contracts within these budgets, as required, in accordance with Contract Standing Orders in respect of the entire Education Capital Programme.

10.1      The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director of Children’s Services requesting approval for the allocation of £1.903 million for 2015/16 within the Structural Maintenance programme and £686,412 allocated for Universal Infant Free School Meals (UIFSM). The grant allocation of £1.903 million had been left unallocated until now due to a larger than expected settlement.

10.2       Councillor Barradell stated that she had found the report unclear as to whether the funding was unallocated or additional as descriptions alternated throughout the report.

10.3      The Head of Education Planning & Contracts clarified that the funding was an unallocated amount.  This had arisen because the level of Capital Maintenance Grant (CMG) notified by the Department for Education shortly before the meeting in March had been significantly higher than expected and the Committee had therefore deferred a decision on the use of £1.9m of this grant pending further work by officers.  The purpose of this report was to seek approval to assign the unallocated amount as an addition to the Capital Investment Programme. On the matter of UIFSM, the Head of Education Planning & Contracts stated that it was recommended that the money should be used to invest in larger kitchen equipment in order to improve the capacity to provide the greater number of meals arising from the UIFSM policy.

10.4      Councillor Barradell asked where the £900,000 revenue funding was allocated from.

10.5      The Head of Education Planning & Contracts answered that this was assigned from Brighton & Hove City Council revenue funding. (Post meeting note: As this revenue funding is from the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) under the ‘historic commitments’ exception it is not available for other purposes.  Any reduction in the contribution would have to be allocated to schools’ budgets through the funding formula).

10.6      Councillor Brown asked for clarification that indicative allocations had been provided for the next three financial years.

10.7      The Head of Education Planning & Contracts confirmed that this was the case.

10.8      Councillor Daniel asked if the £900,000 revenue funding could be used for another purpose.

10.9      The Executive Director of Children’s Service clarified that it was his understanding that this was an historical budget agreement.

10.10   Councillor Wealls enquired as to the determination of D2 priority works.

10.11   The Head of Education Planning & Contracts stated that this was on the basis of ranking criteria that he would circulate to committee members.

10.12   Councillor Marsh asked how works were initially identified and furthermore, clarification on why Woodingdean Community Centre was included in the D1 priority works.

10.13   The Assistant Director - Education & Inclusion stated that the works were prioritised on the basis of a survey and assessment against the set criteria alongside dialogue with the schools. The Head of Education Planning & Contracts added that Woodingdean Community Centre was listed in the D1 priority works as it was within the Children’s Services property portfolio.

10.14   Councillor Daniel asked for clarification on the air raid shelters listed as on school premises.

10.15   The Head of Education Planning & Contracts clarified that there were some air raid shelters on Brighton & Hove school sites and work was sometimes required to keep these structures safe.

10.16   Councillor Barradell asked for confirmation that the £900,000 revenue funding could be used for an alternate purpose.

10.17   The Head of Education Planning & Contracts stated that the £900,000 revenue funding was part of the overall funding used for urgent, priority projects that had to be undertaken on health and safety grounds for example.

10.18   RESOLVED-

1)           That the level of available capital resources totalling £18.383 million for investment relating to education buildings financed from capital grant, revenue contributions and reserves set aside for primary places be noted.

2)           That Committee agree the allocation of the additional £1.903 million as shown in Appendices 2 and 3 and recommend this to Policy & Resources Committee on 11^th June 2015 for inclusion within the council’s Capital Investment Programme 2015/16.

3)           That Committee agree to the allocation of the £686,410 in respect of Universal Infant Free School Meals funding as shown in Appendix 4 and recommend this to Policy & Resources Committee on 11^th June 2015 for inclusion within the council’s Capital Investment Programme 2015/16.

4)           That Committee agree to recommend to Policy & Resources Committee that they grant delegated authority to the Assistant Director of Property & Design to procure the capital maintenance and basic need works and enter into contracts within these budgets, as required, in accordance with Contract Standing Orders in respect of the entire Education Capital Programme.