Agenda item

Consideration has been given to the implications of the Academy Order in respect of the Behavioural Support Service and to the proposed property arrangements to support the conversionof the Behaviour SupportServiceto AcademyStatus.

The alternative accommodation options to those being recommended, but which have been discounted, included using Eslington School, the Dryden Centre, and a new build option.

RESOLVED -

(i)

That The Strategic Director, Corporate Services & Governance, be authorised to negotiate and agree with the River Tees Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) the necessary legal documentation to implement the proposals set out below, following consultation with the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Children and Young People:

a)         the Millway site be transferred to the MAT and             appropriate arrangements are offered to enable it to             occupy the  building in the short term pending             identification of more suitable accommodation;

b)         the former Ravensworth Terrace Primary School be             transferred to the MAT for such limited period as             necessary to allow a more suitable long term site to be             identified in agreement with the MAT, to be used for             the ‘Medically not fit for School’ provision, as this             building is considered suitable for this purpose with             minimal adaptation. (Should a more suitable site be             identified in time for delivery of the service in January             2018, the matter will be referred again to Cabinet for             consideration.);

c)         officers progress the discussion to replace the use by             the Pupil Referral Unit of Heworth Welfare Hall (which is          a Trust Property and as such cannot be transferred to             the MAT), with the former Brandling Community Centre             with the intention of transferring the Community Centre             to the MAT in the short term, to ensure it has sufficient              accommodation to enable it to meet the service need;

d)         the excluded pupil provision, including the alternative             education provision, be transferred to the current site of             Gibside special school when it is expected to be             vacated in 2020, or such other site deemed suitable,             subject to satisfactory outcome of service delivery by             the MAT which will enable the MAT to provide an             enhanced service for the benefit of pupils in the             borough. This option would release accommodation at             Millway and the former Brandling Community Centre;             and

e)         subject to agreeing replacing the former Brandling             Community Centre with Heworth Welfare Hall, the             Welfare Hall will be  transferred to Fighting Chance             Foundation Community Interest Organisation pursuant             to the Council’s Community Asset Transfer Policy              thereby helping to sustain the future of the             organisation.

(ii)

That a further report be submitted to Cabinet within twelve months on options for the transfer of alternative sites to the River Tees Multi-Academy Trust (such as Gibside school site, expected to be vacated in 2020) and release of some or all the sites initially transferred under recommendation (i) above.

The above decisions have been made for the following reasons:

(A)

To enable the Academy Order to be implemented in January 2018.

(B)

To enable the Council to meets its statutory obligation to provide suitable education at school or elsewhere for children of compulsory school age.