Report on Building Schools for the Future Programme

Report of the Assistant Chief Executive, Legal and Governance to the City Council on 3rd September, 2008.

 

At its meeting on 20th August, 2008, the Cabinet received a report of the Executive Director, Children and Young People’s Services on the Building Schools for the Future Programme.

 

In accordance with the arrangements approved by the Council at its meeting on 5th April, 2000, the report, together with a recommendation of the Cabinet thereon, as set out below, is referred to the City Council for consideration:-

 

 

The Executive Director, Children and Young People’s Services submitted a report (a) providing an update on the submission of the Outline Business Case for Sheffield’s Building Schools for the Future (BSF) Programme to Partnership for Schools (the Department for Children, Schools and Families’ funding body) and (b) responding to the request made by the City Council at its meeting held on 4th June, 2008, to submit to the Cabinet and the City Council a detailed report on the issues relating to the future of secondary schools in the north-west of the City.

 

It was indicated in the report that the Outline Business Case (OBC) was the next stage in the approvals process for Building Schools for the Future and that the OBC must be approved before funding for the entire next phase of BSF in Sheffield was confirmed.  The Council had, since May, 2008, been exploring all available options for submission of a revised strategy for the north-west, including Myers Grove and Wisewood as separate schools.  However, following a meeting between Members and the Government’s Schools Minister on 14th July, 2008, it had been concluded that, in the light of the Government’s response, it was evident that the submission of an alternative strategy for the north-west of the City would entail unacceptable financial risks and delays to the City’s Building Schools for the Future Programme and the Authority’s ambition for the regeneration of Sheffield’s secondary school buildings.

 

RESOLVED: That, having taken into account the decision of the Cabinet at its meeting held on 30th January, 2008, and the further matters contained within the report now submitted, including the response from the Schools Minister on the issue of Government funding, the Executive Director, Children and Young People’s Services, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and Lifelong Learning, the Chief Executive and the Director of Corporate Resources, be authorised to submit to Partnership for Schools the original Outline Business Case for Building Schools for the Future funding, including a single school to replace Myers Grove and Wisewood schools, and to work with all stakeholders to ensure the best possible outcomes for children and young people in Sheffield.

 

(NOTE: 1. This item is referred for approval by the City Council and cannot, therefore, be called-in for scrutiny; and

 

2. The report on Building Schools for the Future Programme is circulated to all Council Members with the Council Summons.)

 

 

Liz Bashforth

Assistant Chief Executive,

Legal and Governance