To consider a report by County Councillor Pete Roberts, Cabinet Member for a Learning Powys.
Minutes:
The Leader explained that his Cabinet was committed to schools transformation but wished to achieve it in a consistent manner. They felt that it had been unwise of the previous Cabinet to take decisions without having undertaken catchment reviews and therefore had brought forward reports proposing delays in implementing the decisions to close Llanfihangel Rhydithon CP School and Llanbedr Church in Wales School.
Councillor Jake Berriman advised that he had a personal and prejudicial interest in this item as he had made a financial contribution to the save the school fund and he left the meeting while it was being considered.
Cabinet considered a proposal to delay implementation of the decision taken by the previous Cabinet to close Llanfihangel Rhydithon C.P. School from the 31st August 2022 to the 31st August 2023 to further consider the impact on the community and to identify steps that the Council could take to mitigate the impact of closure of the school on the community. This could potentially include the transfer of the school building to the community to be utilised for community use. It would also provide an opportunity to explore the viability of establishing a Welsh-medium primary school in Dolau.
The Cabinet Member for a Learning Powys explained that the Cabinet could choose either to accept the decision of the previous Cabinet, to delay the decision or to abandon it. His party had made a commitment in the elections to review the proposal, so acceptance was not an option. He argued that to simply abandon the proposal without providing evidence to the Minister would risk school closures and possible Ministerial intervention. The option to delay closure for 12 months would give time to explore the viability of establishing a Welsh medium primary school as had been recommended by the Learning and Skills Committee when he had been Chair. To be viable, demand for provision of Welsh Medium education and scope for growth would have to be demonstrated.
The Chair of the Learning and Skills Scrutiny Committee, County Councillor Gwynfor Thomas, reported the Committee’s observations that whilst it was supportive of the establishment of a Welsh medium school in East Radnorshire, it was concerned at the significant cost of delaying the closure with no additional educational benefits for pupils.
County Councillor Elwyn Vaughan, the Chair of WESP Partnership, argued that it would take three years to establish a Welsh medium school and that the money would be better spent on funding Mudiad Meithrin and immersion.
County Councillor Iain McIntosh argued that the proposal was giving false hope to parents and pupils as the school would still close in 12 months.
County Councillor Aled Davies challenged the Cabinet on the costs of keeping the schools open for 12 months.
The Cabinet Member for a Learning Powys rejected the comments made by the speakers, explaining that he was seeking to provide an even playing field for those who wished to access Welsh medium education in the area. The Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Transformation advised that the financial implications would be covered by the contingency budget and would not have an impact on the delegated schools budgets. The additional costs of £32k in 2023/24 from the schools delegated budget were minimal when spread out amongst the budgets of all the schools.
Having considered the observations of the Scrutiny Committee and the comments of members it was moved, seconded and
RESOLVED
1. To delay implementation of the proposal to close Llanfihangel Rhydithon C.P School for 12 months to the 31st August 2023.
2. To identify the steps that the Council could take to mitigate the impact of the closure on the community.
3. To explore the viability of establishing a Welsh-medium primary school at Llanfihangel Rhydithon.
4. A virement from delegated school contingency budget for £76,800 is approved to balance the budgets in this financial year. Noting in 2023-24 that the additional £32,300 requirement will be contained within the overall schools delegated budget.
County Councillor Sandra Davies advised that she was abstaining.
Supporting documents: