17Power of LEA to suspend right to delegated budget
(1)If at any time—
(a)this section applies to a maintained school in accordance with section 14(1), and
(b)the school has a delegated budget within the meaning of Part II of this Act,
then (subject to subsections (2) and (3)) the local education authority may, by giving the governing body of the school notice in writing of the suspension, suspend the governing body’s right to a delegated budget with effect from the receipt of the notice by the governing body.
(2)Where this section so applies in the case of a school falling within section 15(1) (school subject to formal warning), the power conferred by subsection (1) above is only exercisable within the period of two months following the end of the compliance period.
(3)Where this section so applies in the case of a school falling within section 15(6) (school requiring special measures), the power conferred by subsection (1) above is only exercisable if the following conditions are satisfied, namely—
(a)a copy of a statement prepared under section 18 of the [1996 c. 57.] School Inspections Act 1996 has been sent to the Secretary of State;
(b)the authority have received a notice in writing from the Secretary of State in which he acknowledges receipt of that document; and
(c)a period of not less than ten days has elapsed since the date of the notice.
(4)The Secretary of State may in respect of any particular school determine that subsection (3)(c) shall have effect as if the reference to ten days were to such shorter period as he may determine.
(5)A copy of a notice given under subsection (1) shall be given to the head teacher of the school at the same time as the notice is given to the governing body.
(6)A suspension imposed under this section shall have effect for the purposes of Chapter IV of Part II of this Act as if made under paragraph 1 of Schedule 15 to this Act, but there shall be no right of appeal under paragraph 3 of that Schedule against such a suspension.