Issue - meetings

Appendix 1 to the report is in the exempt section of the agenda at Item 16.

Further to Minute 66 (15 November 2016), the Cabinet Member for Educational Attainment and School Improvement introduced a report on the proposed creation of a new School Improvement Partnership (SIP) not-for-profit company, to be wholly owned by the Council and participating Borough schools. 

The Cabinet Member commented that recent national recognition of a number of the Borough’s schools was testament to the excellent work being undertaken, despite the continued under-funding by the Government of education provision in Barking and Dagenham.  The main purpose of the SIP would be to support the provision of high quality, best value services within schools to ensure continued improvements in educational standards for all children and young people in the Borough.  The arrangements would also ensure that the Council would continue to have an ongoing role in the provision and standards of education in the Borough under the Service Delivery Agreement and Board arrangements.

The Cabinet resolved to:

(i)  Approve the School Improvement Partnership Full Business Case at Appendix 1 to the report;

(ii)  Agree the establishment of a not-for-profit company, limited by guarantee, to be known as the School Improvement Partnership, in accordance with the proposals set out in the report;

(iii)  Delegate authority to the Strategic Director for Service Development and Integration, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Educational Attainment and School Improvement and the Director of Law and Governance, to implement all steps leading to the establishment of the new company in line with the proposals;

(iv)  Delegate authority to the Director of Law and Governance to execute all the legal agreements, contracts and any other documents on behalf of the Council to implement the setting up of the new company; and

(v)  Delegate authority to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to select the individuals to be appointed to represent the Council on the School Improvement Partnership Company Board.