Cabinet considered approval of a number of tenders as part of the overall secondary school expansion programme approved by Cabinet in July 2016.

The Lead Member explained that the report requested approval of three tenders and the assignment of £290,000 allocated to Lowbrook expansion to the maintenance programme for schools. The scheme at Charters would provide 30 more places each year, 210 in total, and a number of complex school buildings. At Cox Green the proposal would provide 30 more places, 210 in total, and a kitchen and dining room. At Newlands Girls Academy Section 106 funding would be used to add 30 places in total, 6 in each year group. The scheme was complex as it involved infilling of existing buildings to maximise space.

The Principal Member for Ascot Regeneration commented that residents in Ascot were delighted with the proposals for Charters. He requested that when building work began, an appropriate photograph be included in Around the Royal Borough to ensure all were aware.  The Lead Member for Culture and Communities thanked the Lead Member for the funding for boiler repairs at Eton Wick School.

The Principal Member for Public Health and Communications raised a number of questions on behalf of Cllr McWilliams:

·         What investment did the scheme at Cox Green make in additional parking as this was an existing problem as raised by the Parish Council?

·         Why were the terms and conditions not agreed to by the previous developer?

·         Where did the borough expect future pupils to come from and had it factored in new homes in Cox Green as a result of the Borough Local Plan?

The Lead Member responded that the report detailed the last schemes in the expansion programme outside of the Borough Local Plan infrastructure requirements. A report would come to Cabinet in October 2017 to deal with future growth. It was noted that the Borough Local Plan allocated only 29 additional dwellings to the Cox Green area in the initial period. The Director explained that the lowest priced tenderer was unwilling to agree the council’s standard terms and conditions of payment within 28 days, therefore it was decided to go for the second lowest tender. The proposals at Cox Green would add one classroom, therefore only increasing parking needs for a small number of staff. However, it was a shared site with the leisure centre and community centre. In the recent planning application the school had confirmed they did not require any further parking however it had been deferred due to concerns raised by the parish council.

The Lead Member for Finance commented that the council had made a clear strategic and tactical judgement to ensure it was ahead of the curve in relation to primary and secondary places. Delivering places ahead of demand gave parents a high level of choice.

The Chairman thanked officers for all their work on the proposals. He highlighted that as the tenders were within the previously agreed capital programme, there had been no requirement to go to Full Council for approval.

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That Cabinet notes the report and approves the recommendations:

i)          To accept three tenders:

a.    From Dawnus Construction  for Charters academy in the sum of £3,343,199.

b.    From Dawnus Construction for Cox Green academy in the sum of £3,681,388.

c.    From Contract Trading Services for Newlands Girls’ academy in the sum of £769,890.

ii)         To confirm the reassignment of £290,000 allocated to the Lowbrook expansion to maintain the maintenance programme for schools, as set out in Table 7.