Issue - meetings

Report of the Head of Schools and Families

Further to Minute No. 7 of the meeting held on 25 May 2017, the Cabinet considered the report of the Head of Schools and Families in relation to the determination of the proposal to merge South Sefton College with Hugh Baird College as recommended by the Liverpool City Region Area Review.

Decision Made: That:

(1)       the information on the proposal to discontinue South Sefton College to enable the merger with Hugh Baird as recommended by the Liverpool City Region Area Review of post 16 education and training institutions contained in the report, be considered;

(2)       the proposal for the discontinuance of South Sefton College to enable the merger with Hugh Baird as recommended by the Liverpool City Region Area Review of post 16 education and training institutions contained in the report with effect from 31 July 2017, be approved.

(3)       the Head of Regulation and Compliance in consultation with the Head of Schools and Families be authorised to complete the necessary agreements required as part of the merger with Hugh Baird,

(4)       the Cabinet agree to lease the land to Hugh Baird College at less than best consideration due to the significant contribution the proposal will make to the economic and social wellbeing of the local area as set out in the Liverpool City Region Area Review of post 16 education and training institutions;

(5)       the Cabinet note that the Leader of the Council and the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Children’s Services and Safeguarding) had given their consent under Rule 46 of the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules for these decisions to be treated as urgent and not subject to "call in" on the basis that they cannot be reasonably deferred because of the start of the Colleges academic year on 1 August; and

(6)       the Liverpool City Region Area Review Working Group and Officers be thanked for all their hard work.

Reasons for the Decision:

The Local Authority has the statutory power to discontinue a maintained school following the statutory process detailed in the report.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

None.