Decision details

Woodlands Meed (CAB03_20/21)

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Purpose:

Woodlands Meed is a Special School and College for 2-19 year olds located in Burgess Hill. The existing accommodation at the College site has a number of condition issues meaning the College is unable to offer the full curriculum and unable to accommodate the full range of Special Educational Needs. 

 

In order to address this, in February 2019 the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills took a decision (ES18 (18/19)) to approve the allocation of £0.5m from the Capital Programme to enable a costed design to be produced for rebuilding and expanding Woodlands Meed College on its current site. This has involved the appointment of a full design team through the County Council’s Multi-Disciplinary Consultant to undertake the design work required to develop the feasibility design into a formal proposal enabling costs to be sought for all elements of the proposal.

 

A further survey of the existing building’s condition and suitability to meet the needs of the College’s students has now been undertaken.  Following assessment of the outcome of this survey and exploration of access options Cabinet will be asked to agree the allocation of funds from the Capital Programme to enable the new investment at Woodlands Meed to proceed.

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Decision:

Following consideration of the report, Cabinet resolved to approve the following:

 

1.   The allocation of £19.5m, bringing the total budget available to £20m to fund the replacement of the Woodlands Meed College building on its existing site and with its existing capacity of 100 places (option 1B as set out in paragraph 2.3)

2.   The authorisation of the Director of Property and Assets to commence a procurement process and appoint contractors to fully design and cost the replacement college on the college playing field while the college staff and pupils remain in occupation in the existing accommodation

3.   The submission of applications for full planning permission and statutory consents; and with the Director of Law and Assurance, to enter into such agreements as the completion of the project may require, and

4.   That subject to receipt of planning permission and statutory consents, the delegation of the authority to enter into a construction contract with the successful provider to the Director of Property and Assets.

 

The call-in deadline is 4 June 2020.

Publication date: 26/05/2020

Date of decision: 26/05/2020

Decided at meeting: 26/05/2020 - Cabinet

Effective from: 05/06/2020

Accompanying Documents: