The opposition groups on Powys County Council have submitted a motion to be debated at a Special Council meeting on Thursday. It calls on the Council to fully consult with the schools and the wider community when details of the school modernisation proposals are known.
The motion is as follows:
To ensure the Secondary Schools Modernisation process is open, transparent and democratic. As of 8th November 2011, the day on which members of Powys County Council were informed of the proposals, full FORMAL public consultation DID NOT form an integral part of the Secondary Schools Modernisation process. The section referring to public consultation has been CHANGED IN the public documents. It logically follows that the decision to not hold a public consultation has been deliberately made by the Portfolio Holder with the support of the Cabinet. The residents of Powys should not have been misled during the informal consultation where formal consultations were promised. In any event, it is only right that Secondary Schools Modernisation should be an open and transparent process with all those affected or involved enabled to voice their views through a proper public consultation process as details of the proposals are published. This MOTION calls on this Council to re-instate the provision for a full and open public consultation in each High School catchment area and on each Coleg Powys campus.
The Leader of the Welsh Conservative Group on Powys County Council, Cllr Aled Davies, stressed the importance of getting the Liberal Democrat and Powys Independent controlled Cabinet to change its mind.
Speaking before the meeting, he said: “I urge the Council to reconsider its decision. A fortnight ago the Cabinet of Powys County Council gave Cllr Stephen Hayes carte blanche, he appears have the freedom to do what he wishes with our 6th Forms. We are very concerned about Cllr Hayes’ plans, and I am shocked at his announcement that he has no intention of consulting further with any schools or community groups. At the moment his plans for post 16 education lack any real detail- it is essential that once these detailed plans are published he should consult widely with the schools and communities to understand the impact that his plans will have on Powys children’s education.
“The Council promised that they would consult when they visited the schools in the spring and I am asking them not to break that promise.”
