Agenda and minutes

7.1       The Lead Member approved as a correct record the minutes of the meeting on 8 June 2015.

8.1       A copy of the reports referred to below are contained in the minute book.

9.1       This item was originally scheduled to be determined by Councillor Nick Bennett, Lead Member for Learning and School Effectiveness. However during the course of the meeting it became clear that the item under consideration primarily related to children’s social care matters. Because of these special circumstances Councillor Bennett therefore decided it was inappropriate for him to make a decision on this item.   As a result the item was determined by Councillor Sylvia Tidy, Lead Member for Children and Families.

9.2       The Lead Member for Children and Families considered a report by the Director of Children’s Services which sought approval to de-designate Langney Children’s Centre in Eastbourne to enable Langney School to use the building to accommodate additional nursery provision.

9.3       RESOLVED to approve the de-designation of Langney Children’s Centre to enable Langney School to use the building to accommodate additional nursery provision for two year olds.

Reasons

9.4       Additional early years education places are needed in the Langney area of Eastbourne and releasing the current Children’s Centre building to provide these places is in the interests of children in that area.

10.1     The Lead Member for Learning and School Effectiveness considered a report by the Director of Children’s Services which sought approval for East Sussex County Council to end its role as co-sponsor for the Hastings Academy Trust. A statement from the University of Brighton, the principle sponsor, was tabled at the meeting.

DECISION

10.2     RESOLVED to agree that the Local Authority (LA) ends its role as co-sponsor for the Hastings Academy Trust.

Reasons

10.3     The policy context has changed significantly since East Sussex County Council took the decision to act as a co-sponsor for the Hastings Academy Trust. Acting as co-sponsor creates confusion in terms of accountability and may place the LA in the position of raising concerns with the Regional School Commissioner about an academy school where it acts as co-sponsor. Furthermore acting as co-sponsor for some academies and not others creates an unequitable relationship between the LA and its academy schools.