Amendments proposed to the Learning and Skills Bill [Lords] - continued	House of Commons
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NEW SCHEDULE

   

Mr Malcolm Wicks

NS1

*To move the following Schedule:—

'CITY ACADEMIES: LAND

Transfer schemes

    1.—(1) The Secretary of State may make a scheme in relation to land if these requirements are met—

(a) a local education authority holds a freehold or leasehold interest in the land when the scheme is made;

(b) at some time in the period of 5 years ending with the day on which this Act is passed the land was used wholly or mainly for the purposes of a county school or community school;

(c) at the time the scheme is made the land is no longer used as mentioned in paragraph (b).

    (2) These requirements must be met as regards a scheme—

(a) the scheme must provide for a transfer of the authority's interest in the land or in such part of it as is specified in the scheme;

(b) the transfer must be to a person (the transferee) who is specified in the scheme and is concerned with the running of a city academy;

(c) the transfer must be made to the transferee for the purposes of the city academy;

(d) the scheme must provide for the transfer to the transferee of any right or liability held by the authority as holder of the interest in the land or specified part concerned.

    (3) In sub-paragraph (2) the reference to a right or liability—

(a) includes a reference to a right or liability as a trustee, but

(b) excludes a reference to a liability in respect of the principal of or interest on a loan.

    (4) A scheme may include such supplementary, incidental, consequential or transitional provisions as the Secretary of State thinks are appropriate.

    (5) A scheme comes into force on the day it specifies for it to come into force.

    (6) When a scheme comes into force it has effect to transfer (in accordance with its provisions) the interests, rights and liabilities to which it applies.

    (7) A transfer made by virtue of a scheme is binding on all persons (as well as on the authority and the transferee) even if, apart from this sub-paragraph, it would have required the consent or concurrence of any person.

Restriction on disposal

    2.—(1) Sub-paragraph (2) applies if—

(a) a freehold or leasehold interest in land is held by a local education authority,

(b) at any time in the period of 5 years ending with the day on which this Act is passed the land was used wholly or mainly for the purposes of a county school or community school, and

(c) the authority proposes to dispose of the interest or to enter into a contract to dispose of it or to grant an option to acquire it.

    (2) Unless the Secretary of State consents, the authority must not make the disposal or enter into the contract or grant the option.

    (3) Sub-paragraph (2) does not apply to a disposal made in pursuance of a contract made, or option granted, before the coming into force of this paragraph.

    (4) Sub-paragraph (2) does not apply to—

(a) a disposal to a person for the purposes of a city academy and for no consideration;

(b) a contract to make such a disposal;

(c) a grant of an option for a person to acquire for the purposes of a city academy and for no consideration.

    (5) A disposal or contract or grant is not invalid by reason only that it is made in contravention of sub-paragraph (2).

    (6) A person acquiring an interest in land or entering into a contract to acquire it is not to be concerned to enquire whether consent required by sub-paragraph (2) has been given.

    3.—(1) This paragraph applies if an authority makes a disposal or enters into a contract or grants an option in contravention of paragraph 2(2).

    (2) In the case of a grant of an option, the Secretary of State may by notice served on the option holder repudiate the option at any time before it is exercised.

    (3) In the case of a contract to dispose of an interest, the Secretary of State may by notice served on the other party to the contract repudiate it at any time before a conveyance of the interest is executed.

    (4) A repudiation under sub-paragraph (2) or (3) has effect—

(a) when the notice is served, and

(b) as if the repudiation were made by the authority.

    (5) In the case of a disposal of an interest (whether or not in pursuance of an option or contract falling within sub-paragraph (2) or (3)) the Secretary of State may purchase the interest compulsorily.

    (6) The Acquisition of Land Act 1981 is to apply in relation to the compulsory purchase of an interest under sub-paragraph (5).

    (7) On completion of a compulsory purchase of an interest under subsection (5) the Secretary of State must transfer it to a person concerned with the running of a city academy.

    (8) If the Secretary of State acquires an interest by compulsory purchase under sub-paragraph (5) he is entitled to recover from the authority an amount equal to the aggregate of—

(a) the compensation agreed or awarded in respect of the purchase,

(b) any interest payable by him in respect of the compensation, and

(c) the costs and expenses incurred by him in connection with the making of the compulsory purchase order.

    (9) The authority must provide the Secretary of State with such information as he may require it to provide in connection with a compulsory purchase under sub-paragraph (5).

Duty to inform

    4.—(1) Sub-paragraph (2) applies if—

(a) a freehold or leasehold interest in land is held by a local education authority,

(b) at any time in the period of 5 years ending with the day on which this Act is passed the land was used wholly or mainly for the purposes of a county school or community school, and

(c) the authority proposes to change the use of the land in such a way that (were the change made) the land would cease to be capable of use wholly or mainly for the purposes of a school.

    (2) The authority must inform the Secretary of State of the proposal.

Former city academies

    5.—(1) This paragraph applies if—

(a) a freehold or leasehold interest in land is transferred from a local education authority on or after the day on which this Act is passed,

(b) the transfer is made to a person for the purposes of a city academy,

(c) the school concerned ceases to be a city academy, and

(d) immediately before the school ceases to be a city academy the interest is held by a person for the purposes of the city academy.

    (2) This paragraph applies—

(a) whether or not the transfer is made by virtue of a scheme under paragraph 1;

(b) whether or not, on the school ceasing to be a city academy, it simultaneously ceases to function as a school.

    (3) The Secretary of State may make a scheme providing for the transfer of the interest—

(a) from the person mentioned in sub-paragraph (1)(d);

(b) to the authority from which the transfer mentioned in sub-paragraph (1)(a) was made.

    (4) A scheme may include such supplementary, incidental, consequential or transitional provisions as the Secretary of State thinks are appropriate.

    (5) A scheme comes into force on the day it specifies for it to come into force.

    (6) When a scheme comes into force it has effect to transfer (in accordance with its provisions) the interest to which it applies.

    (7) A transfer made by virtue of a scheme is binding on all persons (as well as on the authority and the transferee) even if, apart from this sub-paragraph, it would have required the consent or concurrence of any person.

Other Acts

    6.—(1) Section 123(2) of the Local Government Act 1972 (disposal for consideration less than the best reasonably obtainable) does not apply to a disposal to a person for the purposes of a city academy.

    (2) Section 123(2A) of that Act (disposal of open space requires certain procedures) does not apply to a disposal which is made—

(a) to a person for the purposes of a city academy, and

(b) for no consideration.

    (3) Section 77(1) of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 (restriction on disposal of playing fields) does not apply to a disposal which is made—

(a) by a local authority to a person for the purposes of a city academy, and

(b) for no consideration.

Regulations

    7. The Secretary of State may make regulations containing such incidental, consequential, transitional or supplementary provisions as he thinks are appropriate in consequence of this Schedule or for giving it full effect; and in particular the regulations may include provision described below.

    8.—(1) The regulations may include—

(a) provision requiring a person to be appointed by the Secretary of State in connection with the proposed making of a scheme under paragraph 1;

(b) provision requiring the appointed person to identify the interests, rights and liabilities to be the subject of a scheme under paragraph 1;

(c) provision requiring the authority concerned to provide the appointed person with such documents as he may require in order to identify the interests, rights and liabilities to be the subject of a scheme under paragraph 1.

    (2) The regulations may include—

(a) provision requiring an authority whose interest is (or is to be) transferred by virtue of a scheme under paragraph 1 to execute instruments and deliver certificates for the purposes of the enactments relating to registered land;

(b) provision treating such an authority as having given acknowledgement in writing of the right to production of documents.

    9. The regulations may include—

(a) provision that consent under paragraph 2 is to be sought in a specified way;

(b) provision that information is to be given under paragraph 4 in a specified way.

General

    10. A dwelling-house used by an authority for occupation by a person employed to work at a school is to be treated for the purposes of this Schedule as used for the purposes of the school.

    11. For the purposes of this Schedule—

(a) a city academy is a city academy within the meaning of section 482 of the Education Act 1996;

(b) a community school is a community school within the meaning of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998;

(c) a county school is a county school within the meaning of the Education Act 1996 (as that Act had effect before 1 September 1999).'.

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Prepared 23 May 2000