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The decisions as the council's minutes record them. A plain-language summary follows once it has been written.
Agreed that Cllr. S.K.Hunt be Chairperson for the meeting.
Decision as recorded
Agreed that Cllr. S.K.Hunt be Chairperson for the meeting.
Agreed that Cllr. S.K.Hunt be Chairperson for the meeting.
Cllr S.K. Hunt welcomed all to the meeting.
The following members made a Declaration of Interest at the commencement of the meeting. Cllr N.Jenkins As she is a School Governor of Alltwen Primary School. Standards Committee have granted her a dispensation to speak and vote. But felt that as one of the schools was being considered and after seeking advice on her dual role, she would only be exercising her dispensation to speak on this item. Cllr A.Llewellyn, Cllr W Griffiths Cllr S.Hunt Cllr J.Hurley Cllr S Jones Cllr S Harris All are school governors and have dispensation from Standards Committee to speak and vote.
No questions were received.
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.
No urgent items were received.
Councillors must say when they have a personal link to something being discussed, such as a job, a property or a family member. A prejudicial interest is one strong enough that the councillor usually leaves the room and takes no part.
Declarations are read from the minutes once they are published.
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