Decision details

This decision will be taken in two parts.  Part 1 has been approved and implemented – to issue the public notice.  Part 2, key decision to allocate funds, will be taken following completion of the statutory FED publication period.

It is proposed to enlarge Broomhill Bank School by 56 places increasing the designated number of places to 136 for the September 2014.

1. It is proposed that KCC funded improvements to the school will provide all necessary teaching rooms including specialist teaching spaces.  Facilities within the school will be improved and designed to meet the needs of students. A feasibility study has been completed. The total cost is estimated to be in the region of £2 million of which £1.75 million will be funded from Targeted Basic Need and the remainder from the Basic Needs and Special Schools Review Budget. The costs of the project are estimates and these may increase as the project is developed.  If the cost of the project is greater than 10% the Cabinet Member will be required to take a further decision to allocate the additional funding.

2. Revenue - The schools delegated budget will be allocated on an agreed number of commissioned places in accordance with the High Needs funding methodology of ‘Place Plus’.
3. Human – Broomhill Bank School will appoint additional teachers, as the school size increases and the need arises.

The Cabinet Member for Education and Health Reform has taken the decision to:

(i)            Issue a public notice to expand Broomhill Bank School, Broomhill Road, Tunbridge Wells by increasing the designated number of places offered from 80 places to 136.

And, following the closure of the Public Notice take a further decision to:

(ii)          Expand the school

(iii)         Allocate £1.75 million from Targeted Basic Need budget and £250,000 from the Basic Need budget.

(iv)         Authorise the Director of Property and Infrastructure Support in consultation with the Director of Law and Governance to enter into any necessary contracts/ agreements on behalf of the County Council

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

This decision is conditional upon the grant of planning permission under Part 3 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 by 1 December 2014.