Decision No: CAB069 - 11/2009

Forward Plan No: CS03704

This record relates to A05 on the agenda for the Decision-Making

RECORD OF EXECUTIVE DECISION

23/11/2009  

DECISION-MAKER:

THE CABINET  

PORTFOLIO AREA:

Children's Services  

SUBJECT:

Building Schools for the Future - Approval of Strategy for Change Part 2  

AUTHOR:

Beky Mepham  

THE DECISION

To approve the proposals / recommendations contained in the report without modification as set out below.
(i) To delegate authority to the Building Schools for the Future and Academies Project Director, following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, to amend, finalise and submit the Strategy for Change Part 2, (draft in Members Rooms) to Partnerships for Schools.
(ii) Subject to relevant financial approvals required from Council, to delegate authority to the Executive Director, Children’s Services and Learning following consultation with the Solicitor to the Council, Executive Director of Resources and the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services to take any necessary steps to prepare, finalise and submit the Outline Business Case, to Partnerships for Schools.
(iii) Subject to relevant financial approvals required from Council, to delegate authority to the Executive Director of Resources as the Council’s Section 151 Officer to agree the Councils formal response and commitment on affordability in such form as required in order to submit OBC and obtain all necessary project approvals.
(iv) To delegate authority to the Executive Director Children’s Services and Learning to submit all necessary planning applications for the following schools sites to be included within the BSF programme:
Bitterne Park School
Chamberlayne College for the Arts
St George VA Catholic College
The Sholing Technology College
Upper Shirley High School,
together with such other schools sites as may be necessary in order to finalise the schools to be included within the Building Schools for the Future programme and submit the Outline Business Case.
(v) To delegate authority to the Executive Director of Children’s Services and Learning, to approve final sample school selection, subject to necessary planning approvals, site surveys and feasibility studies.
(vi) To delegate authority to the Executive Director Children’s Services and Learning in consultation with the Solicitor to the Council and Executive Director of Resources and following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, to undertake the procurement of the Wave 6a Building Schools for the Future programme in accordance with national and EU procurement legislation by such procurement route as is deemed to be legally most appropriate. Such delegation to include any and all procurement decisions necessary up to and including selection of preferred bidder.
(vii) To note that a further report will be brought forward in due course seeking to approve formal award of contract, financial and contractual close and seeking all outstanding delegated authorities including authority for the Council’s Monitoring officer to enter into any necessary contract Act certificate under the Local Government (Contracts) Act 1997 to confirm the Council has the requisite powers to enter into the BSF contracts
(viii) To delegate authority to the Building Schools for the Future and Academies Project Director, to be a signatory on any required license in order to authorise use of land outside of Southampton City Council ownership.
(ix) To delegate authority to the Head of Property and Procurement to acquire or dispose of any interest in land to be used/developed in connection with school sites or otherwise as required in order to progress the Building Schools for the Future programme.
 

REASONS FOR THE DECISION

1. Partnerships for Schools require the submission of Strategy for Change Part 2, and the Outline Business Case to continue in the programme.
2. The requested delegations will enable adherence to the ambitious programme timetable which is aiming for earlier than projected submission of the Outline Business case and will allow the Council to be flexible in commencing procurement of the BSF project as soon as possible thereafter, ultimately leading to early delivery of enhanced services and facilities to schools participating in the BSF programme.
 

DETAILS OF ANY ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS

To not submit the required documents. This would result in no further progression in the Building Schools for the Future programme.
To not have the requested delegated authorities will risk serious delay to the programme timetable
 

OTHER RELEVANT MATTERS CONCERNING THE DECISION

None  

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

The decision-maker(s) did not declare a personal or prejudicial interest in the matters set out in the report  

CONFIRMED AS A TRUE RECORD:

We certify that the decision this document records was made in accordance with the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2000 and is a true and accurate record of that decision.

Date:

Decision Maker:

23/11/2009

The Cabinet

Proper Officer:

Judy Cordell

SCRUTINY

Note: This decision will come in to force at the expiry of 5 working days from the date of publication subject to any review under the Council's Scrutiny 'Call-In' provisions.

Call-In Period

24 November 2009 to 01 December 2009

Date of Call-in (if applicable) (this suspends implementation)

Call-in Procedure completed (if applicable)

Call-in heard by (if applicable)

Results of Call-in (if applicable)