Agenda and minutes

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Venue: Committee Room 1, Council Offices, Llangefni. View directions

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Items
No. Item

1.

Declaration of Interest

To receive any declaration of interest from any Member or Officer in respect of any item of business.

Minutes:

Councillor Nicola Roberts declared a personal but not prejudicial interest with regard to item 3 on the agenda as a member of the Governing Body of Ysgol y Graig and the Governing Body of Ysgol Talwrn and also as the parent of a child who is a pupil at the Ysgol y Graig.

 

Councillor Richard Griffiths declared a personal but not prejudicial interest with regard to item 3 on the agenda as his prospective daughter in law is employed at Ysgol y Graig.

2.

Call-In of a Decision - Modernisation of Schools in the Llangefni Area (Y Graig and Talwrn) pdf icon PDF 2 MB

A decision made by The Executive at its meeting held on 16 July, 2018 in relation to the modernisation of schools in the Llangefni area - Y Graig and Talwrn which has been called in by Councillors Lewis Davies, Eric Wyn Jones, Peter Rogers, Bryan Owen and Aled Morris Jones.

 

The documentation is attached as follows –

 

·        The decision published on 19 July, 2018

 

·        The Call-In application

 

·        The report on the modernisation of schools in the Llangefni area (Y Graig and Talwrn) presented to the meeting of the Executive on 16 July, 2018.

 

 

 

Minutes:

A decision made by the Executive at its meeting held on 16 July, 2018 to increase the capacity of Ysgol y Graig to accommodate pupils from Ysgol Talwrn and to close Ysgol Talwrn was called in by Councillors Lewis Davies, Aled Morris Jones, Eric Wyn Jones, Bryan Owen and Peter Rogers. The Executive’s decision, the call-in request and the report by the Assistant Chief Executive (Partnerships, Community and Service Improvement) to the meeting of the Executive on 16 July, 2018 on the modernisation of schools in the Llangefni area (Y Graig and Talwrn) were presented.

 

The Chair said that there would be no public speaking at this meeting of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee. He read out advice provided by the Head of Function (Council Business)/ Monitoring Officer in relation to the matter which confirmed that there is no legal constitutional right to public speaking at a scrutiny committee and that it is a matter for the Chair to determine when and if this is appropriate. The only requirement in connection with this discretion is that it be used fairly and consistently. The Officer further advises that in the circumstances, the Chair’s intentions are a reasonable use of this discretion as this is a case of calling in a decision made by the Executive and is not part of the pre-decision process whereby the Scrutiny Committee collects evidence.

 

Councillor Lewis Davies, as the Lead Call-in Member explained the reasons for calling in the decision made by the Executive on 16 July, 2018 as set out in the call-in request form. These were as follows:

 

           Errors in the consultation.

           There has been ten years of uncertainty for the community of Talwrn which has created a disincentive for young people to move into the village.

           The community impact assessment is superficial and is not in keeping with section 1.7 of the current Schools’ Organisation Code.

           No transport/road traffic review of the road between Talwrn and Llangefni has been produced. This road is hazardous for walking and cycling and, with increasing emphasis on the health benefits of walking and cycling it is essential that a safe route be provided and a traffic assessment conducted especially if children wish to walk or cycle from Talwrn to Ysgol y Graig in the event that Ysgol Talwrn closes. Additionally, Ysgol y Graig is overfull with there being serious parking issues around the school and in the vicinity. Extending the school and the use of it will exacerbate the problem.

           Inconsistencies in the modernisation process in relation to the treatment of areas with similar schools with less children and lower standards remaining open.

           Building new houses in the Cefni area which could lead to over subscription as has already happened with the existing Ysgol y Graig. In the JLDP, Llangefni is earmarked as a commercial and industrial hub with potential to expand in future. With a need for more housing, the town is likely to grow thereby putting pressure on the area’s  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.