The Officer Executive Decisions meeting of Hackney Council was scheduled to discuss a temporary licence to occupy for a part of the former Oldhill Community School site. This licence was proposed for Beis Yaakov Girls School, which had been evicted from its previous premises.

Temporary Licence to Occupy for Beis Yaakov Girls School

The meeting was scheduled to consider a report concerning a temporary Licence to Occupy for Beis Yaakov Girls School (BYGS) on a portion of the vacant former Oldhill Community School site. This proposal was endorsed by the Corporate Leadership Team (CLT) on 28 July 2026 and was to be executed through officer-delegated powers.

BYGS, an OFSTED 'Good' rated school, was evicted from its premises in July 2026, leaving over 100 primary pupils without a place to learn. The report outlined that granting this temporary licence, from September 2026 to December 2026, would ensure educational continuity for these pupils and prevent the school's immediate closure. The arrangement would involve minor site-separation works to allow for the coexistence of BYGS and the existing Oldhill Children's Centre, which continues to operate normally.

The recommendation was to approve the granting of this temporary licence and to authorise the Director of Legal, Democratic and Electoral Services to finalise the necessary documentation. The report highlighted that this decision supports the Council's statutory duty to ensure sufficient school places and aligns with the Council's commitment to effective asset optimisation, with the school assuming responsibility for rent payments covering the building's operating costs. Furthermore, it was noted that this intervention supports the Council's broader Education Strategy, which aims to raise standards within Charedi independent schools and provide equitable services for local families. The report also stated that this is a time-limited arrangement and does not alter long-term plans for the site.

An Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA) was conducted, considering potential impacts on protected groups, to ensure compliance with the Public Sector Equality Duty under Section 149 of the Equality Act 2010. The assessment recognised the urgent need to maintain educational continuity for the pupils and noted the positive impact of providing a stable learning environment while bringing a vacant public asset into productive temporary use.

The report also detailed alternative options considered and rejected, including the option of Do Nothing, which would have resulted in the immediate closure of the school and the loss of educational provision for over 100 children. No other viable alternatives were identified for this specific space and time period.

The Group Director of Finance and Corporate Resources commented that issuing a licence to occupy would enable the Council to mitigate substantial vacancy costs, with the tenant assuming full responsibility for the upkeep and security of the building. This would mean any rental income would be surplus to avoided vacancy costs, improving the Council's financial position regarding the site. The Director of Legal, Democratic and Electoral Services confirmed that the Group Director of Children and Education was authorised to approve the licence under the General Scheme of Delegation.