Agenda item

The Council gave consideration to a report providing an update on the progress of a bid to the Learning Estate Investment Programme (LEIP) Phase 3 and which sought financial and political commitment to proceed with a submission of a bid in October.  The report also provided an update on engagement that had recently taken place with education staff, stakeholders and communities that would assist the bid and inform the next stage of the application process should the Council progress to the next stage following backing from the Scottish Government.

Decision

The Council –

1.    noted that the Scottish Government had confirmed the timescales for the next round of the Learning Estate Investment Programme (LEIP) i.e. invited submissions by 31st October 2022.

2.    noted a business case and application was being prepared for a submission to the LEIP process for a new Campus on Mull in line with the adopted Learning Estate Strategy;

3.    noted that pre-engagement activity had been ongoing with the Mull community about the potential LEIP bid between August and 9th September with over 200 representations or feedback received. Further statutory consultation would take place if a bid was made and successfully progressed to the next stage;

4.    noted the financial position and affordability of a LEIP bid as set out in Appendix B to the submitted report which was exempt from publication due to the commercially sensitive and competitive bid nature of financial forecast information contained; and

5.    agreed to proceed with the submission of a LEIP bid by 31st October based on the entirety of the submitted report, priorities specified in the Learning Estate Strategy, financial context and advice from the Section 95 officer contained within Appendix B to the submitted report, pre-engagement feedback contained within Appendix C to the submitted report, and on the basis that if the bid was successful, financial provision as estimated in Appendix B to the submitted report, would require to be made from 2023/4 onwards.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Commercial Services and Education dated 29 September 2022, submitted)