Capital funding
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Capital funding available to the Local Authority via external grants.
Devolved Formula Capital
Devolved Formula Capital funding is a small, formula-based capital grant given directly to each school so they can maintain and improve their buildings, ICT and facilities based on local priorities.
Devolved Formula Capital Application
School Condition Allocation
Every Responsible Body receives a condition allocation on an annual basis. The Local Authority is the RB for community, Voluntary Controlled and Foundation schools. The allocation is calculated on pupil numbers but also takes into account condition of schools recorded in the Department for Education Condition Data Collection (CDC) 2 reports.
Funds are prioritised to keep schools safe, warm and dry from issues raised within the regular cycle of condition surveys. There is a cycle of condition surveys for all schools in the NCC schools' estate. Before a project is confirmed, a review of condition will be commissioned to assess whether the item has deteriorated in line with the assumptions in the report. These areas for prioritisation go forward annually to CSLT Capital Board and Capital Priorities Group for consideration.
Schools are able to raise urgent concerns email link
Basic Need (growth)
This is capital funding to address need for additional pupil places from growth to top up housing developer contributions. This is allocated on an annual basis following the submission of school forecasts by the local authority. As we see a demographic decline, Basic Need allocations are expected to reduce dramatically. Expenditure can be for any school whether an academy or not as it is based on location. The allocation of funds is on the basis of a business case for consideration of officers and Members.
High Needs Provision Condition Allocation
This has been an annual grant broadly speaking, but unlike others there is no definitive timescale for any announcement. The prioritisation of all capital for SEND comes through the Local First Inclusion programme. Business cases are developed for individual projects or programmes of investment for smaller schemes. Individual budget allocations go through the same process as any other scheme.
High needs provision capital allocations
S106/Community Infrastructure Levy housing developer contributions
Where there is housing development and there is identified likely impact on school places the County Council seeks developer contributions. Where the individual Districts are using Section 106 agreements, these contributions are part of the legal agreement and will have terms and triggers for the funding. This funding is not guaranteed ahead of a trigger being met. Often an agreement names a particular school or group of schools likely to be impacted by the development. These funds cannot be spent on condition issues in schools. Funds are collected by the Local Authority and allocated accordingly.
Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)
This is not a ringfenced contribution to schools in the same way as S106. It has more flexibility in how it is spent on infrastructure, but this can mean it is harder to ensure education contributions are prioritised. For the Greater Norwich Growth Area (South Norfolk, Norwich and Broadland) we have received an annual allocation of £2.5m towards education projects. This has to be approved by the GNGB and can only be used on agreed projects. Funding is drawn down once a planning application has been determined.
