13(1)Paragraph A23 (land required by local authority for certain purposes) is amended as follows.
(2)For sub-paragraph (4), substitute—
“(4)Before making an application under sub-paragraph (1) for a transfer order in relation to publicly funded land, the authority must give notice of their intention to make the application to—
(a)the body or trustees holding the land, and
(b)the Secretary of State.”
(3)In sub-paragraph (6), for “such an application” substitute “an application under sub-paragraph (1) or a notice under sub-paragraph (4)”.
(4)After sub-paragraph (6), insert—
“(6A)On receipt of a notice under sub-paragraph (4)(b), the Secretary of State must—
(a)decide whether to make a direction under paragraph 12 of Schedule 1 to the Academies Act 2010 (transfer to Academy) in respect of the land, and
(b)notify the local authority of that decision.
(6B)If the Secretary of State decides to make a direction under paragraph 12 of Schedule 1 to the Academies Act 2010 in respect of the land, the local authority may not make an application under sub-paragraph (1) for a transfer order in relation to the land.”