Issue - meetings

Background:

This report set out details of the business case, based on an initial feasibility study, for the Autistic Spectrum Disorders Unit at Bradfields School, Chatham. The Council had agreed to add this scheme to the capital programme in the sum of £1.5 million at the budget setting meeting on 24 February 2011. Subsequently, the Cabinet had agreed, on 2 August 2011, for a public consultation to take place to make prescribed alterations to the School including: an expansion of the upper and lower age limits; an addition to the SEN categories and; an increase in the number of pupils.

The report provided details of two options for the development of the School, with option 2 being the preferred option of the Design Team and the School.

An exempt appendix set out the detailed finance and whole-life costing information.

Reasons:

Option 2 is the preferred choice of the design team and the school, as it provides the provision of the new accommodation adjacencies allowing for opportunities of fuller integration between the two existing school buildings. This option also provides best value for money.

The cost estimates indicate that the preferred scheme, which will deliver the identified accommodation requirements, should be affordable within the provisional budget envelope of £1.5m. Accurate cost estimates will be developed during the detailed design stage and presented for approval at Gateway 1 stage, prior to going out to tender.