Agenda item

To submit a report by the Head of Learning.

The report of the Head of Learning incorporating the report on the statutory consultation process in relation to schools in the Seiriol area was presented for the Executive’s consideration.

The Portfolio Member for Education, Libraries, Culture and Youth reported that a non- statutory consultation on options for modernising the primary education provision in the Seiriol area was held for a period between June and July 2017. Following the Executive’s approval in October, 2017, a statutory consultation process took place from 20 November, 2017 to 6 February, 2018. The report on the outcome of the statutory consultation was considered by the Corporate Scrutiny Committee at its meeting held on 12 March, 2018.

The Portfolio Member said that one of the criticisms levelled at the Authority with regard to its decision-making especially in relation to education is that it does not listen to the views of stakeholders, and that matters are pre-determined making consultation a tick-box exercise. The Portfolio Member emphasised that the Authority does listen and in this case it has noted the strong representations made at the meeting of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee on 12 March with regard to the proposals put forward – specifically that Ysgol Beaumaris be closed - as well as the comments made during the consultation process particularly by the community of Beaumaris. Mindful of the views expressed, the Portfolio Member said that he was therefore proposing that a new statutory consultation process be held for the Seiriol area; the consultation report will reflect the views of Estyn and other stakeholders and will be based on proposals to close either Ysgol Beaumaris or Ysgol Llangoed on the grounds that the Authority has to move forward with the schools’ modernisation programme on the Island.The Executive was supportive of the proposal.

The Head of Learning said that prior to and following the meeting of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee but after the consultation period had closed, a number of issues and questions were raised; also alternative options were submitted. Consequently, the service has put the four alternative options that were presented by the Governing Body of Ysgol Beaumaris as well as a further option that was put forward by the Chair of the Ysgol Beaumaris Consultation Response Committee through the scoring process; the outcome of this process is set out in Appendix 10 to the report. In Appendix 11, the Service has sought to address the additional issues and questions that have been raised. The Officer said that some of the scores for the alternative options are comparable with the score for the option favoured by the Service; hence the proposal to carry out the consultation anew.

Councillor Dylan Rees, Vice-Chair of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee spoke as the Chair of the Committee’s meeting held on 12 March, 2018 at which this matter was discussed. He reported that representatives of Ysgol Beaumaris and Beaumaris Town Council were given the opportunity to address the meeting. Two Seiriol ward councillors spoke as Local Members and a statement was read out on behalf of one Ward Member. Councillor Dylan Rees said that having considered all the information presented and the representations made, and in light of the level of concern expressed and the number of issues which the Committee deemed remain unanswered, the Committee had resolved to recommend to the Executive that a decision on the modernisation of schools in the Seiriol area be deferred in order give more time to review and to assess the impact on the community, and also that a stakeholder group be formed to look in detail at other ways of mitigating the risks in the area.

Councillor Lewis Davies, a Local Member spoke to acknowledge the intention to consult again on the primary education provision in the Seiriol area in recognition of the strong views expressed by the community of Beaumaris and the alternative options put forward. He emphasised his role as a local Member for the whole of the Seiriol Ward and said that he had been consistent throughout in his support for each area within the ward. He had been a member and Chair of the Governing Body of Ysgol Llangoed for 10 years and had fought hard to keep the school open. He had also been elected by the residents of Beaumaris and as such he had been asked to fight for the community and its school. He had given assurance that he would do his best for them hence the representations he had made on behalf of the school and for social housing for the town of Beaumaris. Regrettably, and inaccurately, this has been interpreted by some as his favouring the closure of Ysgol Llangoed.

It was resolved that a decision on the modernisation of schools in the Seiriol area be deferred in order to undertake a new statutory consultation on proposals for primary education provision in the area.