Agenda item
Urgent Items
Any
urgent items (whether public or exempt) at the discretion of the Mayor pursuant
to Section 100B (4) (b) of the Local Government Act 1972.
Minutes:
The
Leader of Council made a brief statement in relation to the issues surrounding
the closure of God’re Graig
Primary School. A preliminary survey on
the quarry above the school had indicated that there was a medium risk to the
school. As a result the Leader of
Council had taken the decision to immediately close the building and letters
had been issued to all parents to the effect.
Staff had also been briefed in relation to the risk.
The
Leader confirmed that the pupils would not be attending the school in September
and that a further survey had been commissioned, which would take six to nine
months. It was noted that the initial
survey related to the school only but that this would be extended to include
the nearby houses.
He
confirmed that contrary to the views of some of the public, this was not a ‘back
door’ way of closing the school and that the welfare and safety of the children
were paramount. Officers were looking at
alternative accommodation for both pupils and staff in time for the autumn
term. A meeting of the school governors
had been held on 16 July and thereafter a public meeting was called.
The
Authority’s website now had a dedicated page on which the draft report and
copies of the letters issued had been published. This would be kept up to date going forward.
In
relation to the surrounding residential area, the Leader confirmed that
communication would be maintained and once any further news had become
available a further public meeting would be called.