Decision details

Councillor Lucy Smith, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children and Young People presented the report regarding the Pupil Referral Unit.  The request is for approval to invite tenders for work in relation to the Pupil Referral Unit, and specifically in relation to the PRU’s Whitefield Centre building. These are phase 2 of the works following the relocation of the main PRU building from Spring Lane to the New Kershaw Centre. Approval by Cabinet is required to proceed to tender to obtain a competitive construction price.

In response to a member question regarding consultation with residents, Councillor O’Brien, advised that any potential site that is looked at for the PRU will be done with a full extensive consultation.

Decision:

Cabinet:

1.    Accepted the indicative budget and works programme, and

2.    Approved the Whitefield Centre works to proceed to formal tender, using a pre-procured ESPO Framework, and subject to additional cabinet approval of the final contract sum prior to award and entering into contract with the preferred supplier/ contractor.

Reasons for decision(s)

Approval of the works is required in order for the Whitefield Centre project to progress to tender phase. Key considerations within the document have informed both the scope and the methodology for carrying out the works as proposed.

Alternative options considered and rejected:

1.    Delay instructing the contract: This would delay overall Whitefield Centre completion date by two months as Cabinet approval cannot be sourced in the August cycle. This would prevent the school from receiving the additional intake of pupils and they would have to be housed in alternative provision outside the Borough of Bury. This would also push the works into the winter months, potentially extending the duration on site and associated costs of construction.

2.    Seek an alternative solution for the contract: The Council have considered alternative options to deliver the additional accommodation within the timescales provided. This included use of other Council owned property, and the use of modular accommodation on the existing site, partial refiguration only. No other Council owned property could meet the needs of the school within the available timescale. Partial reconfiguration would not provide the classroom accommodation the school requires and there was insufficient space within the school to site modular accommodation or extend. A split site was also discounted as the school would not have the staffing and safeguarding arrangement available to accommodate this. None of the alternative options explored where able to deliver the additional accommodation with the available timescales.