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Question from: County Councillor Iain McIntosh Subject: School Closure Proposals
Question: During the recent County Council election campaign, Liberal Democrat and Labour candidates gave unequivocal commitments to protect primary schools and keep them open. Comments were made by candidates from both parties in the press, on election leaflets, on social media, and on the doorstep, convincing members of the public that if they voted for Liberal Democrat candidates, or Labour candidates, Cradoc CP School, Llanfihangel Rhydithon School, and Llanbedr Church in Wales School would be protected from closure. Cabinet members and elected councillors making up the Liberal Democrat and Labour coalition even attended protest walks and other events to campaign against the closure the three primary schools. In recent weeks since the election, it has become clear that the new Liberal Democrat and Labour coalition no longer want to fight against the closures. Instead, they have indicated a preference to proceed with the plans to close Cradoc School, and kick the decision to close Llanbedr and Llanfihangel Schools down the road for another year. Parents, teachers and children associated with these primary schools are now being given false hope that the schools will be kept open after the recent announcement to say you merely want to reconsider the proposals.
I refer to the Cabinet meeting held on 5th July 2022, available to watch here - https://powys.moderngov.co.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=137&MId=7188&Ver=4
At 5:39 in the webcast, Cllr Pete Roberts claims that abandoning the decision to close Dolau school, as well as others such as Llanbedr and Cradoc, would be ‘the surest way to make sure that not only this school, but many others across the county, would face closure in the coming years. Why you might ask, because this is a decision that lies ultimately not with the Cabinet, but with the Minister in Cardiff, as he has to approve our proposals under the school code as a stakeholder’. If he believed this to be accurate, Cllr Pete Roberts should have informed Powys residents before making commitments to keep the schools open. However, I do not believe this to be accurate. At 6:23:25 I asked for clarity about this and at 6:25:10 Emma Palmer responds, together with another response from Clive Pinney a few seconds later to confirm “We do not need the consent of the Minister”. Therefore, by trying to suggest he could not stop the closure of the schools, Cllr Pete Roberts may have misled Cabinet, the Council, and the public.
At the end of the meeting, 6:25:10, Cllr James Gibson-Watt repeats his claim that following any decision to delay the closure of primary schools for 12 months to carry out a review, they will not have to close. However, at 6:39:00 Emma Palmer confirms that if any decision is taken to review the school closures within the next 12 months, and a new decision is then made to ... view the full agenda text for item 1. Minutes: Response by the Cabinet Member:
I must apologise for failing to respond to your question at any time, but I have failed to identify that any question has been asked, as opposed to you making a series of statements, the accuracy of which I challenge.
I have discussed this matter with the Monitoring Officer who confirms that my interpretation of your alleged question, i.e. that it does not contain a question that requires a response.
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