Proposed decision:
Transfer of £22,500,000 s106 contributions in regard to Chilmington Green Secondary School to the DfE if the School is delivered via the DfE ‘Wave’ programme.
Delegate authority to the Director for Education to take necessary actions, including but not limited to entering into necessary contracts or taking other legal actions as required, to implement the decision.
Reason for the decision:
The Government ‘Wave’ programme can support the early delivery of education infrastructure through the provision of the capital funding required prior to the receipt of s106 contributions. The Government will expect that s106 contributions are transferred to them once received by the Local Authority.
Background:
A new 6FE secondary school at Chilmington Green in Ashford has been approved via the Government ‘Wave’ programme. This means that the DfE will deliver the school and will be responsible for the capital cost rather than KCC. Given that a new secondary school can cost in the region of £28,000,000 this will be a substantial saving to KCC’s Capital budget.
Options (other options considered but discarded)
KCC does not have the capital funding to deliver the school itself prior to receipt of the s106 contributions which in essence would delay the school be several years.
How the proposed decision meets the objectives of ‘Increasing Opportunities, Improving Outcomes: Kent County Council’s Strategic Statement (2015-2020)’
The decision will help to secure the additional high quality secondary school places that are required to support both the indigenous secondary school population in addition to any further pressure for secondary school places from Chilmington Green other developments across the Borough.
Decision type: Key
Reason Key: Expenditure or savings of more than £1m;
Decision status: Withdrawn
Notice of proposed decision first published: 04/02/2021
Decision due: Not before 5th Mar 2021 by Cabinet Member for Education and Skills
Reason: To enable the decision to be on the FED for a minimum of 28 days.
Lead member: Cabinet Member for Education and Skills
Lead director: David Adams
Department: Education & Young People's Services
Contact: Lee Round, Governor Support Officer 03000412309 Email: lee.round@kent.gov.uk.
Financial implications: Funding for Chilmington Green Secondary School has been agreed via a s106 agreement. There are 6 payments linked to both time or occupation triggers totalling £22,500,000 plus indexation. If the School is delivered via the ’wave’ programme it is expected that the s106 payments, are transferred to the DfE as and when they are received by KCC.
Legal implications: Kent County Council (KCC) as the Local Authority has a duty to ensure sufficient school places are available. If this decision does not take place there will be a risk that we cannot meet our statutory duties to provide education provision.
Equalities implications: An Equality Impact Assessment has been completed. No adverse impact on protected groups has been identified at this point.