Issue - meetings

This decision was taken as an item of urgent business to enable the council to meet the target conversion date of 1 June 2020.

Cabinet considered a report seeking permission from Cabinet to delegate authority for finalising and approving the detailed legal documents to the Director of Corporate Services, and to provide the necessary authority and indemnity to the Chief Executive and Director of Resources, to complete the academy conversion of Marsden Heights Community College, in accordance with the directive Academy Order from the Department for Education on 8 February 2017.

Resolved: That

  i.  the Director of Corporate Services be authorised to finalise and approve any documents necessary to give effect to the academy conversion of Marsden Heights Community College from the conversion date (with a target conversion date of 1 June 2020 or as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter)

  ii.  the Chief Executive and Director of Resources be authorised to issue all necessary certificate(s) within and for the purposes of the Local Government (Contracts) Act 1997 in respect of the Deed of Variation to the Project Agreement with Lancashire Schools SPC Phase 2A Limited (the contractor responsible for designing, building, financing and operating the school facilities) (and any other certified service contracts with a term exceeding five (5) years being put in place to implement the directed academy conversion)

  iii.  Lancashire County Council give an indemnity to the Chief Executive and Director of Resources as follows:

“Lancashire County Council shall indemnify the Chief Executive and Director of Resources against any claims made against them (including costs incurred by and awarded against them) and will not itself make claims against them for any loss or damage occasioned by neglect and error or omission committed by the Chief Executive and Director of Resources in the course of or in connection with the signing of the certificate(s) referred to above.”

  iv.  The decision be implemented immediately for the purposes of Standing Order C29 as any delay could adversely affect the execution of the county council's responsibilities in relation to the target conversion date as set out.