Decision Maker: Executive
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: Yes
Is subject to call in?: Yes
Report outlining the strategic procurement
plan for identifying an Academy Trust provider for the new social
emotional mental health (SEMH) free school.
RESOLVEDthat
i. the Executive approves this Strategic Procurement Plan to review and
recommend an academy trust, with the Department of Education (DFE), to run the SEMH (Social Emotional Mental Health) school on the All-Saints Warfield site. The recommendation will then be considered by the Secretary of State for them to enter into a funding agreement with the recommended trust.
ii. the Executive delegate authority to the Executive Director: People and the Executive Member for Children, Young People and Learning for the contract award decision.
1. Academies are state-funded schools that are independent of local authority control and receive their funding directly from the government. Schools established through the presumption process are not required to use the term ‘free school’ in their name: this follows practice within the DFE’s free school programme.
2. It is a requirement of the contract standing orders, that the Executive approve any strategic procurement plan with a value more than £1m. The SEMH School will provide 50 places of which 41 are expected to be used by pupil’s
resident in BF and for which the council will be financially responsible. The cost to the council is therefore estimated at £10k for the core cost of each place commissioned, plus another circa £34k “top up” payment for each BF pupil on roll, at an estimated annual cost of £1.8m and circa £7.2m over 4 years if at full capacity. This decision seeks approval for the procurement process as the cost per student per year would be over the threshold. The contract value is based on a four-year period, but the contract period is indefinite.
1. Framework agreements - We are not aware of any DfE (or other) frameworks to appoint a trust. There are likely to be a limited number of trusts who meet the specifications and are able to bid for this tender, so using a framework agreement, (if there was one), would have less benefit.
2. The presumption process is the main route by which local authorities bring about the establishment of new schools to meet the need for additional places.
None
Reason Key: Affects more than 1 ward;
Wards Affected: (All Wards);
Financial Impact: Outlined in the report
Declarations: None
Subject to Urgent Proceedings: No
Making Representations: In writing to the Executive Director People
Other reasons / organisations consulted
Outlined in the report
Consultees
Outlined in the report
Contact: Grainne Siggins, Executive Director People Email: grainne.siggins@bracknell-forest.gov.uk.
Report author: Grainne Siggins
Publication date: 16/07/2024
Date of decision: 16/07/2024
Decided at meeting: 16/07/2024 - Executive
Effective from: 25/07/2024
Accompanying Documents: