Purpose

Description – or Summary of the Item: (this information
will be made public)

[Note for DL – please copy to ‘Description’ Field
in online system] 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 Bishop Challoner RC Secondary, St Anne's and
Guardian Angels RC Primary and St Elizabeth RC Primary
Schools.

The schools received an academy order from the Secretary of State
on 24th October 2023 and have stated their intention to convert to
academy status and join the Lux Mundi Catholic Multi-Academy Trust
on 1st September 2024.

Content

DECISION
 

1.   
Note the decision of the Secretary of State for Education on
24 October 2023 to approve the applications from the Governing
Bodies of Bishop Challoner RC, St Anne’s and Guardian Angels
RC, and St Elizabeth RC 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, if necessary and if agreed by all parties, on suitably
agreed terms, as well as any other necessary agreements with
relevant third parties, as described in paragraphs 3.1 –
3.11 of the report.

4.   
Authorise the council to negotiate with the Academy Sponsor
– Lux Mundi Trust and the Department for Education to agree
the form and detailed terms of the appropriate documentation in
relation to any council owned land to allow for the operation of
the Academy from the transfer date.  Depending on
the type of land and any directions received from the Secretary of
State for Education, this may take the form of freehold transfers
or the grant of 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 Divisional Director, Legal (Monitoring
Officer), to execute all documentation required to implement the
decisions

6.   
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)