Purpose

This report asks for Cabinet to delegate officer authority for
the completion of lease arrangements, commercial transfer
agreements and related matters specific to the academy conversions
of Columbia and Hermitage Community Primary Schools.

The schools received academy orders from the Secretary of State on
18th December 2023 and the 24th April 2024 respectively, and have
stated their intention to convert to academy status and join the
London East Teacher Training Alliance (LETTA) Multi-Academy Trust
on 1st September 2024.

Content

DECISION
 

1.   
Note the decisions of the Secretary of State for Education on
13 December 2023 and 24 April 2024, to approve the applications
from the Governing Bodies of Columbia and Hermitage to convert the
schools to academy status,  and that the Council
has a statutory duty under law to facilitate the conversion
process.

2.   
Delegate to the Corporate Director for Children’s
Services, in consultation with the Executive Mayor, the overall
management and timing of the conversion process working with all
relevant parties.

3.   
Authorise the Council to enter into a commercial transfer
agreement on suitably agreed terms, as well as any other necessary
agreements with relevant third parties,  as
described in paragraphs 3.4 – 3.25  of the
report including  The School Agreement, The
Principal Agreement, The Deed of Variation to the Project Agreement
and the LGCA Certificate.

4.   
Authorise the Council to negotiate with the Academy Sponsor
–  London East Teacher Training Alliance
(LETTA) Trust and agree the detailed terms of the leases for the
Council owned land,  to allow for the operation
of the Academy from the transfer date. To grant these leases for a
period of 125 years for a ‘peppercorn rent’, in
accordance with the relevant standard documentation produced by the
Department for Education

5.   
Authorise the Council to negotiate and conclude the terms for
a Licence for Alterations to sit alongside the 125-year Lease at
the Hermitage site to capture the works currently being undertaken
pursuant to the building contract for the SEN Unit.

6.   
Authorise the Council to negotiate and conclude a Deed of
Assignment of the current Council underlease at the Columbia site,
to be entered into alongside the 125-year Lease.

7.   
Authorise the Divisional Director, Legal (Monitoring
Officer), to execute all documentation required to implement the
decisions

8.   
Note the equalities considerations as set out in Paragraph
5.1 of the report.
 
Action by
CORPORATE DIRECTOR CHILDREN’S
SERVICES (S. REDDY)
Head for Pupil Access and School Sufficiency (T. Bryan)