Agenda, decisions and minutes

1.1  Apologies were received from Cllr Chapman, Cllr Coban, Cllr Fajana-Thomas, Cllr McKenzie, Cllr Woodley, Cllr Etti, and Cllr Moema.

Members are invited to consider the guidance which accompanies this agenda and make declarations of interest as appropriate.

2.1  There were no declarations of interest

The Chair will consider the admission of any late items of Urgent Unrestricted Business which will be considered under the agenda item where they appear.

3.1  There was no urgent business for consideration.

On occasions part of the Cabinet meeting will be held in private and will not be open to the public if an item is being considered that is likely to lead to the disclosure of exempt or confidential information. In accordance with the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012 (the “Regulations”), members of the public can make representations about why that part of the meeting should be open to the public.

At the time of publication this agenda does not contains exempt items as set out at the Exclusion of the Press and Public agenda item.  

This is the formal 5 clear day notice under the Regulations to confirm that this Cabinet meeting will be partly held in private for the reasons set out in this Agenda.

4.1  No representations were received.

At the  time of the agenda publication, no questions or deputations have been received.

5.1  No questions or deputations were received.

RESOLVED:

1.  Authorise the granting by the Council to the Community Schools Trust a  lease for a term of 125 years at a peppercorn rent for land and buildings comprising Haggerston Community Secondary School, shown edged red on Plan 1 attached to this report, subject to the terms of the Department for Education’s model lease (subject to reasonable updating and modification).

2.  Authorise the Acting Group Director of Finance and the Group Director of Children and Education, in consultation with the Mayor and lead member for Education, to agree the commercial terms of the relevant  Commercial Transfer Agreement in connection with the academy transfer.

3.  Authorise the Acting Director of Legal, Democratic and Electoral Services to  prepare, agree, settle and sign the legal documentation envisaged to  complete the transactions set out in this report, together with any  ancillary legal documentation.

REASONS FOR DECISION

The Department for Education has stipulated that where a local authority owned community school wishes to convert to academy status the local authority must lease to the school the land and buildings used for educational purposes on a 125 year lease at a peppercorn rent. 

DETAILS OF ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED

The Secretary of State has agreed in principle to establishing Haggerston School as an Academy and holds powers to enforce that decision and transfer the land, if required. 

6.1  Mayor Glanville introduced the report, and confirmed that it was being considered under both general exception and cases of special urgency rules, and noted the level of public interest in the Academisation decision.  The decision was being taken in public and in a timely manner to ensure democratic ownership.

6.2  The Mayor regretted that Haggerston School had taken the decision to academise, but acknowledged and respected their choice, and noted that the school would remain an important part of the Hackney family of schools.  Deputy Mayor Bramble, Cabinet Member for Education, Young People and Children’s Social Care, also shared her disappointment in the decision to academise, but agreed that the Council would continue to support all Hackney’s children in all schools.

RESOLVED:

1.  Authorise the granting by the Council to the Community Schools Trust a  lease for a term of 125 years at a peppercorn rent for land and buildings comprising Haggerston Community Secondary School, shown edged red on Plan 1 attached to this report, subject to the terms of the Department for Education’s model lease (subject to reasonable updating and modification).

2.  Authorise the Acting Group Director of Finance and the Group Director of Children and Education, in consultation with the Mayor and lead member for Education, to agree the commercial terms of the relevant  Commercial Transfer Agreement in connection with the academy transfer.

3.  Authorise the Acting Director of Legal, Democratic and Electoral Services to  prepare, agree, settle and sign the legal documentation envisaged to  complete the transactions set out in this report, together with any  ancillary legal documentation.

REASONS FOR DECISION

The reasons for the decision were included in the printed decisions, published on the 17 August 2023 and can be found here.

RESOLVED: Cabinet is recommended to note the Delegated Powers Reports.

Note from the Governance Team Leader:

Item 9 allows for the consideration of exempt information.

Proposed resolution:

That the press and public be excluded during discussion of the remaining items on the agenda, on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

RESOLVED: THAT the press and public be excluded during discussion of the remaining items on the agenda, on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

The Chair will consider the admission of any late items of Urgent Exempt Business

9.1  There were no new exempt items for consideration.