Capital Projects Approval Process

GSSG Children Centre capital projects

All capital projects must be entered on Surestart_on before approval can be given

Please use this link to access SureStart_on.

The approval process varies according to the total project cost. In summary:

Capital build project where total project cost is under £150,000

On submission to the DCSF, capital-project funding approval will be automatically released. Technical consultants will monitor the progress of the project

Capital non-build project where total project cost is under £250,000

On submission to the DCSF, capital-project funding approval will be automatically released. Technical consultants will monitor the progress of the project. Examples of a non-build project include equipment, or a playground where the funding will not be part of a larger scheme or contract which includes the development of a new building, extension or refurbishment of an existing building.

Capital non-build project where total project cost is over £250,000

On submission to the DCSF, capital-project funding approval will be automatically released. Technical consultants will monitor the progress of the project. Examples of a non-build project include equipment, or a playground where the funding will not be part of a larger scheme or contract which includes the development of a new building, extension or refurbishment of an existing building.

Capital build project where total project cost is over £150,000

Once the capital project is ready for submission, a full set of Stage D plans should be sent to the technical consultants for assessment. The technical consultant will assess the project on fitness for purpose and deliverability. Together for Children (TfC) will check the project fits strategically. Once completed, the funding will be released. Technical consultants will monitor the progress of the project.

Capital projects with £1m or more Sure Start investment

The capital project will be reviewed by the same process as a capital build project over £150,000. However it is expected where a project has over £1m Sure Start investment that at least 50 new full daycare places should be provided. Where 50 new full daycare places are not being provided, then the local authority will have to provide justification to why this is the case. This type of project will need clearance by the Director of Early Years, Extended Services and Special Needs Group. Where 50 or more new full daycare places are being provided then approval will be by Senior Management.

For further information on children’s centre projects that are unlikely to meet the March 2008 deadline see slippage information.

GSSG main capital funding, non-children's centres

From mid-February 2006 onwards, for Sure Start capital being spent to fund the creation of capital assets that do not form part of children’s centres (main centres or linked sites), local authorities are required to enter some basic monitoring information on Surestart_on, to log other capital assets created as part of GSSG capital funding, and to update this information on a regular basis.

Providing this information will also enable local authorities to claim irrecoverable VAT on these elements, where appropriate, as the amounts inputted will update the overall capital allocation, and therefore allow capital claims relating to these amounts.