Court risk to schools shake-up
CAMPAIGNERS have vowed to fight planned school mergers in the courts after council chiefs rejected calls to re-think the scheme.
Stoke-on-Trent City Council's cabinet had been asked to reconsider proposals to merge Mitchell High School and Edensor High School under the £250 million Building Schools for the Future (BSF) strategy.
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City independent councillor John Davis.
But yesterday it rejected a recommendation by scrutiny councillors to temporarily put the scheme on hold.
City Independent councillor John Davis, pictured, warned: "A judicial review will be pursued, with whatever delays that creates."
The authority has previously said it wants to build a replacement school on a new site, either on land at Parkhall, in Weston Coyney, or on an open space named Springfield, off Anchor Road in Adderley Green.
But Mitchell High supporters claim both sites would be unsuitable for children to walk to.
They have suggested an alternative merger with Berry Hill High School at a new community school on the current Mitchell site.
The proposal led to the cabinet's decision to publish closure notices for the schools being called in.
The Children and Young People's Overview and Scrutiny Committee, which discussed the issue on Tuesday, backed halting the closures until Mitchell High's future had been fully discussed.
Scrutiny committee chairman Councillor Michael Coleman told yesterday's cabinet meeting that members felt the BSF plans would deprive the city's most densely populated area of any high schools, and force children in Bentilee to walk unreasonable distances to school.
He said: "We heard evidence that this proposal would create a huge void in the area of Berryhill, Townsend and Bentilee."
Councillor Davis claimed the cabinet had downplayed the level of support for the Mitchell High proposal. He pointed out Stoke-on-Trent MP Mark Fisher backed it.
He said: "He has been assured by various ministers that this would not put at risk the funding package for our BSF programme.
"If this goes ahead then the city's central constituency will have just two high schools – a situation that doesn't exist in any other constituency in this country."
But cabinet members felt there was no point in further delaying the BSF strategy. Cabinet member for children and young people's services, Councillor Ian Mitchell, said: "I am fearful of what will happen if we don't get this job moving, because it has been stuck since 2003. If they want to take us to a judicial review then so be it."
Formally rejecting the scrutiny panel's recommendation, council leader Ross Irving said: "I can understand the opposition of some individuals, but I have had conversations at the highest level, and if we don't pass this then we are at risk."
More stories from the schools reorganisation:
Allegations of petition being ignored
Schools scheme finally wins through
4 Comments
by david, Burslem
Thursday, August 13 2009, 8:33PM
“Why? Why?Why? those involved can not sit around a table and agree to what is best for all, is beyond my comprehention. Yet again you all argue to what ends? Legal eagles take more money from the pot.”
by craig, springfield NO its adderley green mate
Thursday, August 13 2009, 8:14PM
“money money money thats all they thing about. Mitchell high will become houses because its worth more to the council. Adderley green will fight them all the way they will not have the only piece of greenary left for us to use go to the council. Together we are strong”
by Nicky, pitsnpots.co.uk
Thursday, August 13 2009, 4:07PM
“Come on now Sentinel let¿s have a little more fairness here.
You refer to ¿a recommendation by scrutiny councillors to temporarily put the (BSF) scheme on hold.¿
What they actually recommended was:
¿That the Committee request the Cabinet to consider amending its decision about linking Mitchell High School with Edensor High School and to instead join Berryhill High School and Mitchell High School to form a new community school to be located on the Mitchell High School site.¿
Nothing about putting BSF on hold. I observed scrutiny and cabinet. Cllr Coleman specifically said ¿the BSF program should be racing ahead in the areas where there is support for it¿. Delays are not wanted by anyone. But some at least want to make sure it is right for all communities and it is only where it isn¿t that they are asking for a different decision.
Scrutiny councillors did a thorough job examining the reasons the cabinet decision was called in, listened well to Cllr John Davis and others and put forward a common sense recommendation of benefit to the community.
Many people will be disadvantaged by and furious about cabinet¿s rejection of the scrutiny recommendation.”
by Gary Elsby, Baddeley Green
Thursday, August 13 2009, 12:54PM
“Ross Irving claims it is 'at risk'. What is at risk? Ross Irving got it wrong for Trentham and now wishes to prove he can get wrong again. What is at risk, Ross? There is no risk that you will be elected to serve the people of Trentham again, that's certain. Is this Conservative suggesting a Labour Government will pull the plug on funding new schools? Ridiculous.”