Agenda, decisions and minutes

It was reported that the following changes to the Portfolio Holder responsibilities, the Cabinet Member for Regeneration was now the lead member for Assets, with the Cabinet Member for Finance and Assets having an oversight of asset maintenance.

In relation to the item on School Land Transfer, the Cabinet Member for Regeneration would be taking the decision with the Cabinet Member for Finance and Assets countersigning.

There were no apologies for absence.

To provide an opportunity for Members and Officers to declare any disclosable pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests in any item on the agenda.

No declarations were made.

In accordance with Procedure Rules Nos.11 and 35 a period of 10 minutes is allocated for members of the public to address the meeting on any matter relevant to the work of the body in question.  Individual members of the public may speak for up to 5 minutes but the Chairman or person presiding will decide how the period of time allocated for public speaking will be apportioned where there are a number of speakers. Members of the public are not required to give notice to use this facility. However, as a matter of courtesy, a period of 24 hours’ notice is encouraged.

Members of the public wishing to ask a question at the meeting should provide at least three clear working days’ notice in writing and should include the question with that notice. This will enable an informed answer to be given.

No members of the public were present.

To consider proposed changes to the delegated authority which was granted in 2011.

1          Authority be delegated (a) to the Property Services Manager to negotiate the terms with relevant parties (and, if appropriate, the referral of matters where agreement has not been reached to the Office of the Schools Adjudicator (the OSA)) and (b) to the Director of Legal Services to agree the full terms of and execute and complete:

a.    Leases granted under the provisions of the Academies Act 2010 as amended by the Education Act 2011 (and any statutory amendment or re-enactment thereof) of land used wholly or mainly for the purposes of the relevant converting school.

b.    Statutory transfers of school land made under the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 as amended by the Education and Inspections Act 2006 and in accordance with the School Organisation (Prescribed Alterations to Maintained Schools) (England) Regulations 2007 and the School Organisation (Prescribed Alterations to Maintained Schools) (England) Regulations 2013.

c.    All academy and foundation agreements related to matters other than land transfers. These include but are not limited to Commercial Transfer Agreements, and Novations or Assignments of Existing Contracts and other ancillary documents necessary to effect the transfer of rights interests and liabilities in connection with the change of status of a school.

d.    Any ancillary legal documentation including, but not limited to, (and before or after any lease relating to Academy transfers), licences for investigations or works, wayleaves and easements.

e.    The taking of any steps necessary for the protection of any interest(s) of the authority in connection with any matter authorised by this delegation.              

f.     Following the completion of an academy lease to enter into appropriate formal licences giving Landlord’s consent where it is proper to do so and in accordance with the terms set out in the relevant academy lease.

2          Authority be delegated to the Executive Director of Economic Growth & Prosperity to:

a.    include within the relevant academy lease, if required, any property on the relevant school site, which prior to such lease is not used for education purposes but will become so following the grant of that lease (and which may or may not be subject to arrangements for leasing back or shared use agreements);

b.    to take a lease back of any part or entering into an agreement for the shared use of any facilities or any part of a school site that is included in an academy lease or is statutorily transferred under the provisions set out above that is used or is intended to be used temporarily or permanently for use or uses other than solely by the school and for which it is desirable that local authority use or community use continues after the school has changed status; and

3          Authority be delegated to the Property Services Manager to negotiate the terms with relevant parties and the Director of Legal Services to agree the full terms of and execute and complete all documentation reasonably necessary to give effect to any decisions of the Executive Director above.

The Cabinet Members considered a report on School Land Transfers.

In August 2011 authority was delegated to the Assets Manager and Borough Solicitor to transfer school sites to the relevant Academy Trusts once an Academy Order had been issued by the Secretary of State.

Since this authority was granted, it had become apparent that the process required further documents to be completed. This need arose both as part of the conversion process and from time to time throughout the duration of the proposed academy leases to address issues which were not contemplated at the time of the conversion process.

Approval was therefore sought for the purposes of authorising all educational disposals and the transference of the appropriate rights of interests and liabilities that the Council was required by various legislative provisions to address in connection with changes to school status or the provision of new school sites.  It would also allow the Council to deal with routine licences to which consent must contractually be given and other minor matters which would inevitably arise from time to time in consequence of the retained interest of the Council as freeholder without the need to seek an individual authority on each occasion.

RESOLVED:  That

1          Authority be delegated (a) to the Property Services Manager to negotiate the terms with relevant parties (and, if appropriate, the referral of matters where agreement has not been reached to the Office of the Schools Adjudicator (the OSA)) and (b) to the Director of Legal Services to agree the full terms of and execute and complete:

a.    Leases granted under the provisions of the Academies Act 2010 as amended by the Education Act 2011 (and any statutory amendment or re-enactment thereof) of land used wholly or mainly for the purposes of the relevant converting school.

b.    Statutory transfers of school land made under the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 as amended by the Education and Inspections Act 2006 and in accordance with the School Organisation (Prescribed Alterations to Maintained Schools) (England) Regulations 2007 and the School Organisation (Prescribed Alterations to Maintained Schools) (England) Regulations 2013.

c.    All academy and foundation agreements related to matters other than land transfers. These include but are not limited to Commercial Transfer Agreements, and Novations or Assignments of Existing Contracts and other ancillary documents necessary to effect the transfer of rights interests and liabilities in connection with the change of status of a school.

d.    Any ancillary legal documentation including, but not limited to, (and before or after any lease relating to Academy transfers), licences for investigations or works, wayleaves and easements.

e.    The taking of any steps necessary for the protection of any interest(s) of the authority in connection with any matter authorised by this delegation.              

f.     Following the completion of an academy lease to enter into appropriate formal licences giving Landlord’s consent where it is proper to do so and in accordance with the terms set out in the relevant academy lease.

2          Authority be delegated to the Executive Director  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.