Issue - meetings

The Chair referred to the document which had been placed in the public gallery prior to the meeting, which related to the recommendations made by the Council meeting held earlier in the day to consider the Call-in of the decision taken on 23^rd February to Determine the Notice to Close Culverhay School.  He observed that Council had asked Cabinet to reconsider the original decision, in the light of the representations made at the Call-in meetings.  He asked Cabinet members to confirm that they had read the representations from Council.

Councillor Tony Clarke made an ad hoc statement in which he emphasised that there were still issues arising out of the failure so far to address the excess school spaces.

Councillor Steve Hedges made an ad hoc statement reminding Cabinet that Culverhay School had been asking for a number of years to be allowed to become co-educational.  It was unfortunate that the consultation process in the last year had been badly handled.  He appealed to the Cabinet to make the right decision.

Councillor Dine Romero made an ad hoc statement reminding the Cabinet that a majority of Council members felt strongly that closure had been a bad decision, which is why she had organised Call-ins at every stage of the process.  She looked forward to allowing Culverhay an opportunity to prove itself.

Councillor Gerry Curran made an ad hoc statement appealing to Cabinet to revoke the previous decision and instead to support Culverhay School in its aims to move forward.

Sarah Moore made an ad hoc statement reminding Cabinet that the community had fought for 20 years to have a co-educational school at Culverhay.  The community had proved its determination during the events of the last year and she hoped that Cabinet had been convinced by their arguments.

Councillor Nathan Hartley thanked the Council for the decision it had taken earlier that day to uphold the Call-in.  He explained the history of the process so far and said that the part played by the community had been pivotal.  He felt that the Cabinet had an opportunity to recognise the strength of community feeling and to deliver the right decision.

He felt that since February (when the original decision was made), two significant events had occurred: there had been a change of policy by the incoming Cabinet; and new funds had been identified to support the school in its aspiration to become co-educational.

He therefore moved the resolution below.

Councillor Paul Crossley seconded the motion.  He thanked education officers who had worked so hard to find a way of enabling the Cabinet’s new policy position.  He expressed warm thanks to those in the local community, friends of Culverhay, staff and Governors all of whom had joined together to make their strength of feeling evident.  He made particular mention of the Head Boy of Culverhay School, James Eynon, who had spoken at Council so clearly and convincingly in favour of the school.

On a motion from Councillor Nathan Hartley, seconded by  ...  view the full minutes text for item 32