Agenda item

Cabinet Members discussed the proposal and the Leader of Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council Cllr S.K.Hunt summed up the discussion.  Members thanked Officers for all the work they had undertaken as part of the process for their professionalism, tolerance and advice.

The Director of Education, Skills and Culture emphasised that if Cabinet Members chose not to support the recommendations, they would be going against officers advice.

Decision:

That the recommendations contained within the report of the Director of Education, Leisure and Lifelong Learning are not approved/refused for the following reasons:

·        The distance of the new site from Godre’rgraig in particular and the loss of primary education from that community following the closure of the original school building. There is a concern that this would have a detrimental impact on wellbeing of the children.

·        Highway safety has to be integral and Cabinet Members feel they do not have sufficient information at this stage about the impact of increased traffic and routes to the school.

·        Cabinet Members have heard concerns about the potential impact on Welsh medium education in the same area and the fact it might reduce numbers attending local welsh language schools and the impact on a linguistically sensitive area.

·        The second consultation, like the first, showed that the majority of the three communities affected oppose the plans.  Cabinet Members wish to explore ways to retain viable primary schools in their own communities. There are lessons to be learned how we as a council consult with communities at an early stage about the future of schools and education.