To whom will the land and buildings of Baverstock Academy transfer and in what condition?
Dear Department for Education,
Following the publication this week of the Sale by Tender of the Entire Contents of Baverstock Academy (https://www.mgrappraisals.com/static/Bav...), I am writing to ask if:
a) a decision has been made as to whom the land and buildings will transfer upon the Academy's closure. This includes if a decision in principle has been made which, even though not formally ratified, forms the basis of formal/informal plans for the land and buildings
b) the name of this person/organisation can be released at this point unless covered by FoI exemption(s).
Given that the Tender Catalogue for Sale of Contents includes an option for external parties unconnected with the future use of the site to purchase and remove the boilers, control panels and associated pipework from the academy, has the disposal of these fixed assets been approved by the Secretary of State or duly authorised officials acting on her behalf? Or was this decision been taken outside the Department's scope of control?
Is there a control/supervisory arrangement in place by which the Department will ensure that, in the event of boiler and pipework removal, the presence of asbestos containing materials is checked for and managed appropriately? If so, what is the arrangement?
Finally, has a risk assessment been undertaken by the Department, or on behalf of the Leap Academy Trust and shared with the Department, concerning the potential damage to the buildings caused in winter conditions by the potential removal of boilers and hot water systems?
I am happy for information in response to the separate questions in this request to be supplied as it becomes available.
Yours faithfully,
Matthew Clements-Wheeler
Dear Mr Clements-Wheeler
Thank you for your recent enquiry. A reply will be sent to you as soon as possible. For information; the departmental standard for correspondence received is that responses should be sent within 20 working days as you are requesting information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Your correspondence has been allocated reference number 2017-0032611.
Thank you
Department for Education
Ministerial and Public Communications Division
Tel: 0370 000 2288
Dear Matthew,
Thank you for your request for information, which was received on 24 June
2017. You requested confirmation as to whether:
a) A decision has been made as to whom the land and buildings will
transfer upon the Academy's closure. This includes if a decision in
principle has been made which, even though not formally ratified, forms
the basis of formal/informal plans for the land and buildings?
b) The name of this person/organisation can be released at this point
unless covered by FoI exemption(s).
I have dealt with your request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
In answer to points a & b, I can confirm that the Baverstock School Site
will be transferred to Birmingham City Council, following the closure of
the school on 21 July 2017. The Department has not been made aware of any
in-principle decision from Birmingham City Council regarding their plans
for the land and buildings.
You also requested the following information:
c) Given that the Tender Catalogue for Sale of Contents includes an
option for external parties unconnected with the future use of the site to
purchase and remove the boilers, control panels and associated pipework
from the academy, has the disposal of these fixed assets been approved by
the Secretary of State or duly authorised officials acting on her behalf?
Or was this decision been taken outside the Department's scope of control?
d) Is there a control/supervisory arrangement in place by which the
Department will ensure that, in the event of boiler and pipework removal,
the presence of asbestos containing materials is checked for and managed
appropriately? If so, what is the arrangement?
e) Finally, has a risk assessment been undertaken by the Department, or
on behalf of the Leap Academy Trust and shared with the Department,
concerning the potential damage to the buildings caused in winter
conditions by the potential removal of boilers and hot water systems?
The Academies Financial Handbook puts a specific duty on academy trusts to
ensure that any disposal of assets achieves the best price that can
reasonably be obtained, and maintains the principles of regularity,
propriety and value for money. The handbook explicitly confirms this can
involve public sale where assets have a residual value.
The Financial Notice to Improve imposed on The LEAP Trust requires the
trust seek ESFA approval prior to the disposal of assets. We can confirm
that the LEAP Trust have complied with this requirement to date – they
have sought, and been provided with, approval to dispose of certain
identified assets. We can confirm that approval has not been sought for
all items listed in the Tender Catalogue for Sale of Contents. Approval
has not, to date, for example, been sought for approval to dispose of the
boilers, control panels and associated pipework. The ESFA considers any
request to dispose of assets on the merits of the individual case and
details provided.
Following a search of the Department’s paper and electronic records, I
have established that the information you requested, concerning
supervisory arrangements and risk assessments, is not held by this
Department.
If you have any queries about this letter, please contact me. Please
remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.
If you are unhappy with the way your request has been handled, you should
make a complaint to the Department by writing to me within two calendar
months of the date of this letter. Your complaint will be considered by an
independent review panel, which were not involved in the original
consideration of your request.
If you are not content with the outcome of your complaint to the
Department, you may then contact the Information Commissioner’s Office.
Yours,
Alexander O’Fee-Worth
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