In accordance with Section 100B (4) (b) of the Local Government Act 1972, the Chairman of the Cabinet agreed that this be considered as an item of urgent business as a company needed to be formed by Cheshire East in order to submit an expression of interest to the Department for Education by 16 November 2012; failure to meet this deadline would mean that Cheshire East would have to wait a further 12 months in order to submit its application.
As this was an urgent item it would also be exempt from the provisions of call-in.
Consideration was given to a report seeking approval and authorisation to submit an expression of interest to the Department for Education to pursue the establishment of a University Technical College (UTC).
RESOLVED
1. That it be noted that, at their meeting on 15 October 2012, Members approved the pursuit of a University Technical College as part of the Councils Three Year Plan 2013/16.
2. That approval be given to the submission of an Expression of Interest to the Department for Education by 16 November 2012 on behalf of the Company, to be established in accordance with 3 below, to develop a UTC in Cheshire East, and that the process thereafter, set out in para 7.2 of the report, be noted.
3. That the Council be authorised to establish a Company Limited by Guarantee as part of the process, as set out in Appendix 1 of the report.
4. That Lorraine Butcher, Strategic Director of Children, Families, and Adults be approved as an initial director of the UTC Company, and that Fintan Bradley be confirmed as Company Secretary in the first instance with key business and academic partners/sponsors to be appointed at a later date.
5. That it be noted that membership of the Company will change to reflect the Business/Industry and University partners once further negotiations have been completed at which point a further report will be submitted to the Cabinet.