Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Education and Skills and Cabinet Member for Finance & Capital Strategy.

The exempt Appendix A is set out at item 18 of the agenda pack.

(a)           That the budget and funding allocations to projects within Appendix A of the report of 11 November 2025 (current Capital Programme), be approved. 

(b)           That authority be delegated to the Executive Director of People – Children’s, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Education & Skills and the Corporate Director Finance & Commercial/Chief Financial Officer & S151 Officer to agree funding allocation of up to £500,000 for any new project, provided those allocations were within the overall Capital Programme budget.

(c)           That authority be delegated to the Executive Director of Place, in consultation with the Executive Director of People – Children’s and Cabinet Members for Children’s Services, Education and Skills and Property & Assets and Economic Growth and the Corporate Director Finance & Commercial/Chief Financial Officer & S151 Officer to procure and award contracts, or release agreed funding to third parties delivering projects, for any project within Cabinet approved Appendix A, of the report, provided the project cost was contained within the overall programme budget.

Reason for the decision

To draw together several previous delegations against individual Capital programme budgets to ensure consistency across programmes. To ensure appropriate oversight and authority was in place to allow projects to progress through from inception to delivery.

The Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Education and Skills presented a report on the Children’s Services Capital Programme, which outlined the current and future projects aimed at ensuring sufficient school places, improving suitability of school estates and expanding provision for children with Special Educational Needs (SEND). The report also looked to clarify the delegations which were used against the programme to ensure they were valid, consistent and with appropriate oversight of projects.

It was proposed by Cllr C Sutton and seconded by Cllr S Robinson

Decision

(a)           That the budget and funding allocations to projects within Appendix A of the report of 11 November 2025 (current Capital Programme), be approved. 

(b)           That authority be delegated to the Executive Director of People – Children’s, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Education & Skills and the Corporate Director Finance & Commercial/Chief Financial Officer & S151 Officer to agree funding allocation of up to £500,000 for any new project, provided those allocations were within the overall Capital Programme budget.

(c)           That authority be delegated to the Executive Director of Place, in consultation with the Executive Director of People – Children’s and Cabinet Members for Children’s Services, Education and Skills and Property & Assets and Economic Growth and the Corporate Director Finance & Commercial/Chief Financial Officer & S151 Officer to procure and award contracts, or release agreed funding to third parties delivering projects, for any project within Cabinet approved Appendix A, of the report, provided the project cost was contained within the overall programme budget.

Reason for the decision

To draw together several previous delegations against individual Capital programme budgets to ensure consistency across programmes. To ensure appropriate oversight and authority was in place to allow projects to progress through from inception to delivery.