Issue - meetings

This report outlines the implications of the accelerating pace of academisation in York which is requiring the local authority (LA) to review and develop its strategic working relationship with schools and other partners.  In order to develop the council’s strategic position it is important for the LA to retain an objective relationship with all schools and multi-academy trusts.  This will allow the LA to work in partnership with all schools so that it can act effectively as the champion for children, families and communities.

Members considered a report which outlined the implications of the accelerating pace of academisation in York, which required the local authority to review and develop its strategic working relationship with schools and other partners.  It was noted that it was important for the Local Authority to retain an objective relationship with all schools and multi-academy trusts which would require the Council to cease its involvement with the South Bank Academy Trust Board.

Consideration was also given to the Academy Toolkit, at Annex 1 of the report, which provided schools with information on the Local Authority’s role in the conversion process. It was noted that owing to the complexity of some school sites that there had been delays in agreeing land leases, therefore in order to avoid future delays, delegations were suggested to Officers in cases where there were no proposals to change the designation of land.

Officers highlighted work on academising Canon Lee School which it had hoped to complete with the school sponsor the Hope Learning Trust  by 1 January 2017.  However, following a review of land and property to be included in the 125 year land lease a preference had been expressed to include the Clifton Without site in the lease, as this was part of the main route for pupils walking to Canon Lee School.

Consideration was then given to the following options:

Option 1:The Executive approve the disposal of the site as a capital asset and an application is made to the Secretary of State to dispose of the site under Schedule 1 of the Academies Act 2010.

Option 2:The Executive approve the lease of part of the site to the Hope Learning Trust as part of the academisation of Canon Lee and that an application is made to the Secretary of State to dispose of the remainder of the site.  If this is approved Canon Lee School and the Hope Learning Trust will receive a proportion of the proceeds from the disposal of the remainder of the site for reinvestment into the Canon Lee site.  If this option is agreed then it is recommended that the agreement of the detail of this arrangement be delegated to the Corporate Director for Children, Education and Communities in consultation with the Executive Member for Education, Children and Young People and the Section 151 Officer.

Option 3:The Executive agree that the Clifton Without site should be included in the 125 year lease to the Hope Learning Trust. 

Following further discussion it was