Council to debate principle of Education Committee involvement in school closure decisions

A motion is on the agenda from East Garioch councillor Martin Ford that asks the Council to agree in principle to the Education, Learning and Leisure Committee having a formal say in school closure decisions.

The motion is: Aberdeenshire Council will amend its Scheme of Delegation to delegate authority to its Education, Learning and Leisure Committee to make a formal recommendation for or against closure in respect of any proposal to permanently close a school.

The lack of any right for the Education, Learning and Leisure Committee to make a recommendation on school closures became apparent when the Council attempted to close Logie Coldstone school.

Cllr Martin Ford has described the Council's position of excluding the education committee from any formal say on school closure proposals as 'indefensible'.

Julie Mitchell-Mehta, a parent at Logie Coldstone, said: "The current situation is ridiculous and is clearly causing confusion. During the consultation on the proposed closure of Logie Coldstone School the education committee voted on the subject and reported that outcome to the Policy and Resources Committee. It was only afterwards that we discovered that they did not have the mandate to make a formal recommendation. Surely the Council's education committee should have some authority when it comes to the closure of local schools."

Cllr Martin Ford said: "My motion asks the Council to agree in principle to giving the Council's education committee the right to express a formal view on whether a school should close. If the motion is supported, Council officers would then need to bring proposals for altering the Council's Scheme of Delegation back to full council, so the exact changes needed can be agreed.

"It is important that the Council now acknowledges the need to change procedures and starts that process by supporting the motion.

"The Council will look ridiculous if it decides that it is wrong in principle to seek a view from its education committee before deciding whether to close a school."

ENDS

Contact: Martin Ford 01224 790052