The Development section has responsibility for all matters concerning school places planning in addition to managing the Children's Services capital building programme.
The section is able to provide schools with forecasts of pupil numbers and advice on the impact of proposed housing developments. Officers manage the net capacity assessment process (which determines the size of schools) and deal with all changes to Published Admission Numbers (PANs).
Responsibility for the planning of new schools, expansions, reorganisations, mergers and statutory changes also rests with the section.
The Development section prioritises bids for funding and subsequently manages the annual Children's Services capital programme in addition to administering Devolved Formula Capital (DFC). Officers manage authority funded capital projects whilst approving and providing guidance to schools on self managed schemes.
The management of Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contracts, including facilities maintenance (FM) in six secondary schools is the responsibility of the section.
Officers work closely with personnel from other Children's Services sections, for example, the Advisory service, Early Years, Special Educational Needs, Health and Safety, Admissions and in particular with Property division colleagues in Corporate Resources.
Development Contact Officers
There are five Development Officers to contact within the section; each cover an area of the authority based on district council boundaries. They would normally be the first point of contact for maintained schools.