Agenda item

Developing the Council’s Strategic Relationship with Academies and Multi-Academy Trusts

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.

Minutes:

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

Resolved:	That the Executive agree to:-

	(i)	Support the development of a new strategic working relationship with all academies and multi-academy trusts and end the current council membership on the Southbank multi-academy trust board.

	(ii) (iii)	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. The detail of the above arrangement being 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. ^1.

	(iv)	Give delegated powers to the Corporate Director, Children, Education and Communities and the Assistant Director Legal and Governance in consultation with the Executive Member for Education, Children and Young People, to negotiate and conclude the Commercial Transfer Agreements and Land Leases in future academy conversions where there are no proposals to change the designation of land currently used for educational purposes. In circumstances where the council intends to apply for a change of use for land formerly used for educational purposes the decision to apply for disposal will be taken by members of the council’s Executive. ^2.	To transfer maintenance and repair responsibilities to the club.

	(v)	Delegate the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) academy conversion process to Officers, in consultation with the Executive Member for Education, Children and Young People, and indemnify the Chief Officer who signs the principal agreement on behalf of the Local Authority. ^3.	To transfer maintenance and repair responsibilities to the club.


Reason:	(i)	To allow the Local Authority to have an objective working relationship with all schools and ensure that it can effectively champion the needs of all children, young people and communities.


	(ii) (iii)	To allow the conversion of Canon Lee School to be completed as required by the Education and Adoption Act 2016.

	(iv)	The Local Authority has a statutory duty to facilitate academisation under the terms of the Academies Act 2010 and the Education and Adoption Act 2016.

	(v)	To allow the academy conversion process for PFI schools to be completed.

Supporting documents: