Decision details

The County Council has a statutory duty to provide sufficient school places for all children who need a place. 

Following a review of pupil projections for starting secondary school in Mid Sussex, that indicates increasing pupil numbers in the area it is necessary to provide for a bulge class of 30 pupils at The Burgess Hill Academy from September 2022.  In order to accommodate this temporary increase in pupil numbers a project will be delivered to invest in teaching and non-teaching areas at the school.

In November 2020 the then Cabinet Member for Education and Skills approved the allocation of Section 106 funding for education infrastructure capital projects, including education infrastructure at The Burgess Hill Academy (decision ES10 (20/21) refers). Authority was also delegated to the Director of Property and Assets to procure and enter into contracts for delivery of the projects.  Following completion of the feasibility study for accommodating the bulge class it was identified that an increased budget was required. An Officer Key Decision was subsequently taken to increase the funding allocation for the project to £615,000 decision OKD54(21/22) refers.

Since the revised budget was approved a procurement has been undertaken which has resulted in a suitable contractor being identified.  The tender returns exceeded the original agreed budget so a further £55,000.00 of S106 funding was required.  This allocation of additional funding has been approved in accordance with the capital governance process via a change request to enable the project to proceed, bringing the total budget to £670,000.00.  Approval is now sought to award the contract for the works.

The Assistant Director (Property and Assets) has approved the award of the construction contract to carry out the works set out in paragraph 2.2 of the report to enable the provision of a bulge class at The Burgess Hill Academy to Fowler Buildings Ltd. for the sum of £627,236.34 including contingency fund.

None