Decision details

The Cabinet Member, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Resources and the  Executive Director - Children’s Services ; Executive Director – Strategic Resources and the Head of Legal Services:

Authorised the construction of a new school building on the Tunnel site, Malborne Way to accommodate the expansion of Phoenix Special School and associated external works on the existing site relating to the car park, up to the value of the budget sum of £5m. This sum shall also include funding for Information and Communications Technology (ICT), all site surveys and project management and technical advisors fees and removal of one of the existing temporary double mobile classrooms currently sited on the CRA land at the back of the school site;

Authorised the Executive Director of Children Services to vary the design and build lump sum option contract with Carillion Construction Ltd to include the construction of a new building and remodelling of external areas on the existing site to accommodate the expansion of Phoenix Special School;

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

The Local Authority has a statutory duty to provide school places and there are significant pressures on the city as a whole.  The decision to expand Phoenix Special School was made by the Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and University following discussion and approval by the Phoenix Governing Body and Headteacher. 

As a result of the above, Phoenix Special School is expanding to accommodate an additional 54 pupils. The proposed scheme will :

-        Provide an additional building consisting of 6 classroom, hygiene rooms, life-skills and music room, dining and kitchen facilities, administration and group rooms.

-        Remodelling of the external area of the existing site to accommodate additional car parking and layby to alleviate the existing drop off / pick up issues currently being experienced by the school.

The following options were considered and rejected:

To do nothing. This option was rejected due to the shortage special school pupil places in Peterborough area and the Local Authority’s statutory duty to provide sufficient school places.

Tender separately for the works i.e., do not use the batched contract arrangement. If the             batched contract arrangement with Carillion was not to be used this would mean that the             Council would have to spend some 3 - 4 months procuring a contractor to build the new school. The batched arrangement obviates the need for such a procurement exercise and enables the Council to deliver the additional accommodation required for January 2015.

Transport children out of Peterborough – this would have considerable financial implications not only for transport costs but also to purchase places at neighbouring authorities, if available. There are statutory guidelines for distances allowed to transport children with special needs and currently there are limited spaces in neighbouring authorities. This could mean children may need to be sent to residential units at much higher costs.

None.

School Organisation Plan 2012-2017