Decision details

The Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and University in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Resources

1.  Authorised the Executive Director People and Communities to act as the Responsible Body for the self-delivery of the design and build of Hampton Lakes Primary School (free school Academy) following capital approval of the budget by the Education Skills and Funding Agency.

2.  Authorised the Executive Director People and Communities to enter into a Pre-construction Services Agreement and subsequently award the design and build contract to the successful Education Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) Contractors Framework Panel Member.

3.  Authorised the Head of Legal Services or delegated officers to enter into any legal documentation on behalf of the Council in relation to this matter.

4.  Authorised the Head of Legal Services or delegated officers to enter into a Development Agreement with the Education Skills and Funding Agency and Hampton Academies Trust, and grant a 125 year lease of the school site to Hampton Academies Trust after the defects liability period for the school buildings has expired.

5.  Authorised the Executive Director People and Communities to enter into additional agreements if required by the Department for Education or the Education Skills Funding Agency to facilitate the opening of the new school by Hampton Academies Trust.

The Local Authority has a statutory duty to provide school places.  There are significant pressures on the city to provide school places in the areas most in need.  A review of demographic data, build out and occupation rates for new dwellings at Hampton East has informed the decision to open a new school as part of the School Organisation Plan 2012-2017 upon land subject to a Section 106 Agreement.

As a result of the above, the proposed scheme will:

-  provide up to 420 new primary school places for children living in the Hampton East and wider Hampton area and 26 nursery places

-  the school will open on an incremental basis offering places to 30 reception children only in September 2019, initially from temporary accommodation

-  to be delivered following a successful free school bid submitted by Hampton Academies Trust to the Department for Education and procured via the ESFA Contractor’s Framework and grant funded by the ESFA (with the exception of the nursery provision which was not part of the free school bid and will be funded by Hampton S106 Agreement/POIS contributions).

The following options were considered and rejected:

To do nothing.  This option was rejected due to the Local Authority’s statutory duty to provide sufficient school places.  Demography analysis, build out and occupation rates for the new dwellings at Hampton East demonstrate a need for the additional school and nursery places from September 2019.

To not create the nursery provision. This option was rejected due to recent demography analysis which demonstrates a need for nursery places in the area.

To tender outside of the ESFA Framework.  This option was rejected due to the benefits of utilising the ESFA Framework for the Council.  The framework was established specifically for the delivery of school projects and offers specialist advice to framework users.  Panel Members are approved by the ESFA for school build delivery.

None.

- School Organisation Plan 2015- 2020 (amended in 2017)

- Medium Term Financial Plan