Decision details

The Cabinet Member for Education and Health Reform is asked to consider and endorse the recommendations to:

1. Increase the designated number of places offered at the School (from 218 to 242) and extend the lower age range of Oakley in order to allow the admission of pupils from age 2 for the 1st September 2017.
2. Allocate the budget from the Education and Young People’s Services capital budget (full details to be provided within the Education and Young People’s Services Cabinet Committee Report)
3. Enter into any necessary contracts/ agreements on behalf of the County Council
4. Authorise the Director of Infrastructure to be the nominated Authority Representative within the relevant agreements and to enter into variations as envisaged under the contracts.

How the decision relates to Facing the Challenge and Corporate Objectives

This proposal will help to secure the ambition “to ensure that Kent’s young

people have access to the education, work and skills opportunities necessary

to support Kent business to grow and be increasingly competitive in the

national and international economy” as set out in ‘Increasing Opportunities,

Improving Outcomes: Kent County Council’s Strategic Statement (2015

2020)’.

The Commissioning Plan for Education Provision in Kent 2016-2020 sets out

how the County Council will carry out its responsibility for ensuring there are sufficient places of high quality, in the right places, for all learners, and this proposal

supports that aim to provide sufficient places where they are needed.

Financial Implications:  The costs tof this project will be outlined in the report that will be considered by the Education and Young People’s Services Cabinet Committee.

Legal Implications: Any legal implications will be identified in the report to the Cabinet Member for Education and Health Reform before the decision to agree the capital expenditure required to provide the school with additional accommodation.

Equality Implications:  An Equality Impact Assessment will be produced and will be accessible on line via the following link: www.kent.gov.uk/schoolconsultations .

The matter is referred to in the Business Plan/Medium Term Capital Programme.

As Cabinet Member for Education and Health Reform, I agree to:

Issue a public notice to:

(i)            increase the designated number of places from 218 to 242

(ii)          extend the lower age range at Oakley (Special) School to age 2 for 1st September 2017 in order to develop an observation and assessment nursery provision

And, subject to no new objections to the public notice

(iii)         Implement the proposals for 1 September 2017.

(iv)         Allocate £586,000 from the Education and Young People’s Services Capital Budget

(v)          Authorise the Director of Infrastructure in consultation with the General Counsel (Interim) to enter into any necessary contracts/ agreements on behalf of the County Council

(vi)         Authorise the Director of Infrastructure to be the nominated Authority Representative within the relevant agreements and to enter into variations as envisaged under the contracts.