COUNTY BOROUGH OF BLAENAU GWENT

REPORT TO: /
THE CHAIR AND MEMBERS of the EXECUTIVE
REPORT SUBJECT: /
21ST CENTURY SCHOOLS PROGRAMME
REPORT AUTHOR: /
M. PRICE – TECHNICAL SERVICES DIVISION
LEAD OFFICER/ DEPARTMENT /
richard crook – corporate director environment and REGENERATION

Summary Report

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PURPOSE OF REPORT

The purpose of the report is to seek the necessary approvals to meet the timescale for delivery of the 21st Century Schools Programme.
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LINK TO CORPORATE STRATEGIES

The 21st Century Schools Programme is the corporate strategy to deal with schools replacement and reduction in surplus spaces.
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3.2
3.3 / SUMMARY/PROPOSALS
The delivery of the 21st Century Schools Programme is intrinsically linked to the five case business model required to satisfy approval by the Welsh Government (WG).
To meet the timescale for delivery of the various projects and the key decision making milestones at the appropriate stage in the programme it is proposed that Corporate Management Team be authorised to approve contractual matters in respect of the implementation of the SEWSCAP Framework, and appointment of contractors to the individual call-off projects.
Due to the critical timescales to progress the first call-off project, the new Abertillery Primary School, it has been necessary to proceed with the programme for delivery and therefore retrospective approval is sought from Executive for Corporate Management Team to deal with such contractual matters requiring approval in respect of this particular project.
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RECOMMENDATIONS

That:-
(i)  Corporate Management Team be retrospectively authorised to approve the use of the SEWSCAP Framework in respect of the delivery of the 21st Century Schools Programme.
(ii)  Corporate Management Team be retrospectively authorised to approve the specialist of contractors invited for the first call-off project, the new Abertillery Primary School.
(iii)  Corporate Management Team be authorised to approve all necessary future reports in connection with the contractual delivery with the individual projects of the 21st Century Schools Programme.
Detailed Report
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PURPOSE

The purpose of the report is to seek the necessary approvals to meet the timescale for delivery of the 21st Century Schools Programme.

BACKGROUND

The 21st Century Programme is a key strategic programme of schools replacement over the 2014 – 2019 financial years.
A cross authority framework of contractors was developed and supported by the Welsh Government (WG) to avoid duplication, give consistency to the tendering process and selection criteria. The framework is effective from a period of four years from March 2011 to February 2015.

The programme for delivery of the first call-off project, the new Abertillery School, is progressing to timescale linked into the five case business model required to satisfy funding approval by the Welsh Government and completion for occupation in September 2016.

PROPOSAL/PRESENT POSITION

A report has been presented to Corporate Management Team seeking approval to use the SEWSCAP Framework in respect of the delivery of the 21st Century Schools Programme.
A second report has been presented to Corporate Management Team seeking approval of a specialist list of contractors selected from the SEWSCAP Framework for the first call-off project, the new Abertillery Primary School.
In order to meet the timescales of the various projects it will be necessary to seek the required approvals at the appropriate stage in the programme, to align with the five case business model funding approval process required by the WG. Therefore it is proposed that Corporate Management Team be authorised to approve the above and subsequent reports on:-
(i)  The approval of specialist list of contracts selected from the SEWSCAP Framework.
(ii)  The appointment of the preferred contractor for the second stage tender process to deliver the individual projects
(iii)  The acceptance of the tender for pre-construction services and/or transition works required in connection with the individual call-off projects; and
(iv)  The award of main contracts following agreement of the second stage tender sums or single stage tender sums in connection with the individual call-off projects.

RISK IMPLICATIONS

The delivery of 21st Century Schools Programme is a key strategic programme for both BGCBC and the WG. Therefore the delivery programme for individual projects has been developed and reviewed to meet critical dates, call-off delivery dates and spend targets within the financial years of the programme.
The five case business model for approvals adopted by WG, require the tender programme to proceed concurrently with the business model, so that final approval by WG is based on the actual agreed contract figure, at time of contract award, and also that planning approval for the project has been received.
Therefore the tender programme and five case business model approval process are required to be aligned so that the milestones for submission and approval are met to ensure that the objective for occupation in September 2016 is achieved.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

There are no immediate financial implications associated with this report; however, timely approval decisions are essential to achieve the overall objections of this major Capital Works Programme.
The projects and funding associated with the 21st Century Programme are included with the 2014/2015 to 2017/18 Capital Programme.

STAFFING/PERSONNEL IMPLICATIONS

There are no staffing issues involved with this report.
CORPORATE ISSUES
Consideration has been given to Human Rights Act Issues, Local Agenda 21, Equality of Opportunity, Sustainable Development, Crime and Disorder and other relevant legislation.
CONSULTATION
HUMAN RESOURCES / CHIEF LEGAL OFFICER/ MONITORING OFFICER / CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER/ S.151 / OTHER
√ / √

CONCLUSION

In order to meet the challenging programme for delivery of the 21st Century Schools Programme, it is proposed that Corporate Management Team be authorised to approve the reports in connection with the individual call-off project.
RECOMMENDATION
That:-
(i)  Corporate Management Team be retrospectively authorised to approve the use of the SEWSCAP Framework in respect of the delivery of the 21st Century Schools Programme.
(ii)  Corporate Management Team be retrospectively authorised to approve the specialist of contractors invited for the first call-off project, the new Abertillery Primary School.
(iii)  Corporate Management Team be authorised to approve all necessary future reports in connection with the contractual delivery with the individual projects of the 21st Century Schools Programme.
Richard Crook
Corporate Director of Environment and Regeneration
25th February 2014