Agenda item

The reports relating to the consultations with Parents, Governors, Staff, Pupils and Young People of the affected schools can be accessed via the Area Schools Review 2012 webpage by following the link below.

(a)       That the report be noted; and

(b)       That a further report outlining the next steps required in each area review be submitted to a future County Council meeting.

The Chief Executive introduced a report to provide the Council with an update on the consultation process for the Secondary School Area reviews.

            In December, 2011 County Council approved renewed consultation on a range of options and the subsequent informal public consultation had been undertaken during March and April, 2012.  Attached at Appendix 1 was a copy of the media statement made by the Cabinet issued on 12 June, 2012 with the full support of officer together with the Cabinet report attached at Appendix 2 of the report.    

            Councillor R.C. Bithell, Cabinet Member for Education reported that following the renewed consultation on a range of options, which had been formulated by Members in Workshops, a number of responses had been received.  The full reports from the consultation responses had been placed in the Members’ Library and were available on the Council’s website.  A summary of the responses were detailed in the Cabinet report.  He proposed that the County Council note the report and await a further report outlining the next steps required in each area review.  This proposal was seconded by Councillor J.B. Attridge.

            Councillor P.G. Heesom raised concern that the future of all sixth form provision had been overlooked within the consultation process.  He commented that this issue should be dealt with strategically as part of the School Modernisation process.

            Councillor H.J. McGuill asked for confirmation that the closure of Argoed High School, which had been dismissed and removed from the options following the Members’ Workshops, would not be reviewed again as part of the consultation process.

            Councillor A.P. Shotton, Leader of the Council confirmed that the responses received as part of the consultation process would be reviewed as soon as possible with a detailed report submitted to Cabinet in due course.  Councillor Bithell explained that following the consultation process the public comments and opinions would be gathered and reviewed in order to progress with tackling unnecessary surplus places.

            The Chief Executive explained that the options set out for public consultation were not exhaustive and as part of the consultation process the Council had a duty to consider additional options put forward by parents, Governors and young people.  Otherwise, the consultation would be fettered and could be criticised as not being an open exercise.  As set out in the statement certain options were more supportable for local communities, certain options were more likely to meet Council and Welsh Government (WG) policy than others and certain options were more likely to be affordable than others.

            Councillor R.B. Jones thanked the Chief Executive for opening the process to allow additional options to be put forward by parents, Governors and young people as part of the consultation process. 

            Councillor C.A. Ellis asked if the options that would not attract 21^st Century School funding from the WG would be removed following the consultation process.

            The Chief Executive explained that bids had been submitted for 21^st Century School funding for Deeside and Holywell.  This was not the only funding available to the Council to tackle surplus places at schools in Flintshire.

            Councillor R.J.T. Guest asked if the future report on detailed options would be submitted to the Lifelong Learning Overview and Scrutiny Committee for its consideration.  Councillor I.B. Roberts, Chair of the Lifelong Learning Overview and Scrutiny Committee commented that this would be a duplication of work as all future reports on School Modernisation would be submitted to County Council to enable all Members to consider and discuss the options.  

            RESOLVED:

(a)       That the report be noted; and

(b)       That a further report outlining the next steps required in each area review be submitted to a future County Council meeting.