Agenda item

The Cabinet Member for Early Years, Children and Families considered the report which sought approval for an award of contract to provide a new nursery building at Lordship Lane Primary School, as Phase 2 of the school’s improvement works and to approve the issuance of a letter of intent.

Officers advised that the outdoor play area would not be included in this phase and would be included in a future phase, once the old nursery building had been demolished.

RESOLVED to

1.         Approve an award to Contractor A of up to £1,257,727.47, subject to planning decision. The planning process is independent to the award process and managed separately by Development Control.

2.         Approve a client construction contingency of 10% that equates to £114,338.86 which will be strictly managed under change control governance arrangements;

3.         Approve the issuance of a letter of intent for up to 10% of the contract value totalling £114,338.86

Reasons for decision

A major review of the condition and suitability of the Children’s Services estate has been undertaken which has informed the Children’s Service’s asset management plan (CSAMP).  This identified condition and suitability deficiencies in the primary, secondary, and wider Children’s Service estate that need addressing in the short, medium, and long-term.  Lordship Lane Primary School is high priority for major works due to issues relating to health and safety or school closure risks.

In 2018 an initial brief was given to undertake the most immediate (short term) health and safety, compliance, and resilience work. These findings included fire compartmentation, fire doors and heating resilience and were subject to a separate award under delegated powers.

In 2019 a further commission was given to further investigate and address urgent works relating to the condition of building services (i.e. heating, electrics and plumbing), external envelope (i.e. roofs, windows) and boundary security.

This scheme at Lordship Lane Primary School has been granted an allocation of funding (£539,000 - combined with the building services improvement and external envelope works contract currently being delivered on site as Phase 1) from the public sector decarbonisation programme, a government initiative sponsored by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy and administered by Salix (Salix works). The grant will be used to part fund the scheme thus reducing the amount of borrowing that the Council will need to undertake. The terms of the grant were that the relevant works initially needed to be completed by the 30^th September 2021. However, an extension to this Salix works deadline has been formally requested to 31 March 2022, in line with Salix guidance. If this later date is missed, then there is a risk that the grant allocation will need to be repaid. 

The works at Lordship Lane Primary School have been developed into 2 phases in order to minimise disruption to the school (referenced in 5.2) and achieve the criteria for Salix Public Sector Decarbonisation grant funding.  This construction award report requests a decision on the procurement of a contractor to undertake Phase 2 – new nursery building. Phase 1, which consists of the building services improvement and external envelope condition works was the subject of an earlier tender exercise and decision. This decision is for Phase 2 only. The scheme of works developed is to develop a new nursery block, using Salix Public Sector Decarbonisation grant funding to deliver the following:

·            2 flexible playroom/classrooms areas, with WCs off the class spaces

·            Group room space

·            Suitable storage space, fitted furniture and ICT

·            Staffroom and kitchenette

·            Installation of new canopy and external classroom spaces

·            External works to include creating a fencing secure line, enhancement of the planting (green boarder) and provision of external storage.

A Cabinet Member signing has been requested in November 2021 to enable the mobilisation of the contractor after the planning outcome late November, which will allow technical design to be completed before Christmas, with ground works, delivery (based on a modular construction) and installation of the nursery by the Easter holidays.

Alternative Options Considered

Do nothing – a decision not to support this award of construction contract will result in the Councils failure to suitably maintain its education estate by undertaking essential condition improvements. This would increase the likelihood of reactive works which will create greater disruption and cost to the Council and potentially result in the loss of education days. All of which would undoubtedly impact on the quality of teaching and learning.

Delaying a decision further would add additional time to the programme. Not being able to award a contract and place orders at the earliest opportunity in November would increase the risk of not achieving the required volume of work before Easter (as outlined in 4.6 of this report) and may impact the Building School Improvement and External Envelope sequencing of works already on site. Minimising disruption to learning and the safety and wellbeing of both pupils and staff is of paramount importance. Although these are intrusive works, the area of the development will be clearly segregated from the staff and pupils.