Decision details

Doncaster Council has submitted a bid to deliver a new special school (Bader School - SEN Free School) on vacant land behind Hungerhill School.

At Cabinet on 18 July, 2017, authority was delegated to the DIrector of People and Chief Financial Officer in consultation with Portfolio Holder Children Young People and Schools to negotiate with the Education and Skills Funding Agency (Now the Department for Education) to deliver the building of the school as well as the effective set up of an effective school delivery model in conjunction with the agreed provider.

Agree to release the capital budget for the delivery of the Bader School (SEN Free School) to enter into contract with Willmott Dixon in two stages with delegated Authority for spend to the Director of People and the Chief Financial Officer in consultation with the Mayor:-
Stage 1 - For the construction of new road and associated services to the red line boundary;
Stage 2 - For the construction and delivery of the school within the red line boundary following receipt of Capital Approval from the Department of Education.

The Council and its Partners were instrumental in the initial design work carried out to determine a budget figure which was approved within the Heads of Terms. The delivery through the SCAPE Framework has allowed early engagement with the contractor and is OJEU compliant.

Alternative delivery options could remove the Council's direct input into the design work and could result in an increase to the budget which would require renegotiation with the Department for Education and would further extend the delivery of the school. This was not recommended.