Approval to acquire the site of the Former Royal School for Deaf Children in Thanet, or another appropriate site in the locality, to assist in meeting the new secondary school provision in Thanet identified in the Commissioning Plan for Education Provision in Kent 2017- 21.
NB: This decision will be taken in two parts. The agreement to acquire the site by the Cabinet Member for Corporate and Democratic Services and the agreement to create a new school on the acquired site by the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education.
Decision type: Key
Reason Key: Expenditure or savings of more than £1m;
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Division affected: Margate;
Notice of proposed decision first published: 20/09/2017
Anticipated restriction: Part exempt - View reasons
Explanation of anticipated restriction:
supporting paperwork will include commercially-sensitive information.
Decision due: Not before 18th Oct 2017 by Cabinet Member for Corporate and Democratic Services, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education
Reason: In order that the proposed decision can be published for a minimum of 28 days, in accordance with statutory requirements
Lead member: Cabinet Member for Corporate and Democratic Services
Lead director: Rebecca Spore
Department: Strategic & Corporate Services
Contact: Roderick Lemerle, Disposals Surveyor Tel: 03000416385.
Consultees
Local Members will be consulted in line with the Property Management Protocol.
The proposed decision was discussed and endorsed by the Property Sub-Committee on 8 September 2017. The minute of that discussion is as follows:-
1. Mrs Spore introduced the report and responded to questions of detail from the Sub-Committee about the layout of the site and the access arrangements.
2. It was RESOLVED that the decision proposed to be taken by the Cabinet Member for Corporate and Democratic Services, to acquire the premises of the Royal School for Deaf Children, Victoria Road, Margate, on the terms set out in the exempt recommendation report, and to delegate authority to the Director of Infrastructure, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Corporate and Democratic Services, to finalise the terms of the proposed acquisition and the sale of any surplus property, be endorsed.
Financial implications: The estimated cost of the new school is in the region of £20m. Very little in developer contributions has been secured so far towards the cost of providing the new Secondary school. It is therefore likely that the majority of the £20m funding will need to be provided from the CYPE capital budget. Capital funding will also be allocated to enable the School to resource each new classroom as they come online, presently at a value of £6,000 per classroom. A one-off £25,000 grant will be provided to the successful sponsor by the Department for Education to cover legal expenses. KCC will provide a budget of £50,000 for start-up costs which will typically commence from January through to 31 August prior to the new school opening on 1 September 2019.
Legal implications: The acquisition of the site or another appropriate site is required to ensure that there are sufficient school places to meet KCC’s statutory duties.
Equalities implications: None.