Issue - meetings

To consider any items of business which the Chairman has had prior notification and considers to be urgent pursuant to section 100B (4) b) of the Local Government Act 1972. The reason for the urgency shall be recorded in the minutes.

The following item of business were considered by the Chair as urgent pursuant to section 100B (4) b) of the Local Government Act 1972. The item was considered to be urgent to enable the works to take place over the Summer.

SEND Capital Programme

(a)    That authority be delegated to the Executive Director of Place, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance & Capital Strategy and the S151 Officer to enter into a contract for the project set out in the exempt Appendix B of the report to Cabinet 29 July 2025.

(b)    That authority be delegated to the Executive Director of Place, in consultation with the Executive Director People – Children’s to enter construction contracts at the appropriate time provided the project forms part of the SEND Capital Programme and the project cost is contained within the overall programme budget.

Reason for the decision

To ensure no further delays were incurred for the project set out in exempt Appendix B and to ensure the appropriate delegation was in place for future projects which form part of the SEND Capital programme.

The following items of business were considered by the Chairman as urgent pursuant to section 100B (4) b) of the Local Government Act 1972. The item was considered to be urgent to enable the works to take place over the summer.

SEND Capital Programme

The report was introduced by the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Education and Skills. The item enabled work to take place over the summer holidays at the Dorchester Learning Centre. The numbers of places the work would support was outlined. The Cabinet Member explained the reason why the item had not been added to the Forward Plan and thanked the Chairman of the People and Health Scrutiny Committee for allowing the urgent item.

In response to how the Cabinet Member would ensure transparency and accountability with the decision, the Cabinet Member explained this decision was about giving delegated authority for the project and that the decision and project was in the open domain.

In response to a member’s question about the item being urgent, the Corporate Director for Education and Learning took full responsibility for the item being urgent, explaining that officers thought the project was covered by a previous delegation given to them by Cabinet in 2022, and it was realised too late to add the item to the Forward Plan or as a regular item on the agenda.

In response to a question about what would happen if the project was delayed, the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Education and Skills advised that the work would need to wait until the next summer holiday period and there would be inflationary costs.

There was general support from members for the project to take place and to address capacity issues with placements. Members thanked the Corporate Director for Education and Learning for taking responsibility for the late report.

It was proposed by Cllr C Sutton and seconded by Cllr S Clifford.

Decision:

(a)  That authority be delegated to the Executive Director of Place, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance & Capital Strategy and the S151 Officer to enter into a contract for the project set out in the exempt Appendix B of the report to Cabinet 29 July 2025.

(b)  That authority be delegated to the Executive Director of Place, in consultation with the Executive Director People – Children’s to enter construction contracts at the appropriate time provided the project forms part of the SEND Capital Programme and the project cost is contained within the overall programme budget.

Reason for the decision:

To ensure no further delays were incurred for the project set out in exempt Appendix B and to ensure the appropriate delegation was in place for future projects which form part of the SEND Capital programme.