Decision details

This report updates Cabinet on proposed changes to the Second Direction issued by the Secretary of State for Education on 30 September 2015 and the related implications for those services and functions delivered by Cambridge Education. It sets out revised proposals for the future delivery of the services and functions within the Cambridge Education contract entered into on 30 September 2013 to take account of these changes.

(a)  That the contract period for school improvement services and the integrated support services in the Council’s contract with Mott MacDonald Ltd (Cambridge Education) be extended by two years to achieve a five-year contract period overall for these services.

(b)  That the progress and conclusions of the negotiations of the Deed of Variation with Mott MacDonald Limited (Cambridge Education) be delegated to the Director, Children’s Services following consultation with the Chief Executive and the Council’s Commissioner for Education and Children.

(c)  That support services to schools within the Council’s current contract with Mott MacDonald Ltd (Cambridge Education) are brought in-house and managed directly by the Council from 1 October 2016.

(d)  That a Deed of Variation to the Services Contract between the Council and  Slough Children’s Services Trust Limited (SCST) be drawn up to reflect the transfer of responsibility for children’s centres and early years services to the Trust, in order to clarify operational, financial and performance management arrangements subject to Cabinet agreement in September 2016.

(e)  That the Council and the Commissioner for Children’s Services appointed by the Secretary of State for Education requests the Secretary of State for Education to update Schedule 2 of the Second Direction to reflect the Council’s ongoing responsibility for the delivery of some of the education services currently listed therein, as agreed with Slough Children’s Services Trust Limited.