Decision to close three schools still in limbo
A report was supposed to be discussed at Powys County Council’s cabinet meeting yesterday, but was withdrawn at the last minute.
It now looks likely that the report, which is supposed to explain how education officers have come to advise the Independent/Conservative cabinet to stop the statutory process to close Llanfechain Church in Wales School, Llangedwyn Church in Wales School and Ysgol Bro Cynllaith, will be discussed at a meeting next Tuesday.
All three schools are in the council ward represented by finance portfolio holder and Conservative group leader Cllr Aled Davies.
Council Leader, Rosemarie Harris, said: “We’ve withdrawn the item just for today, we’ve got another cabinet meeting next week and there’s some discussion that we need to have.”
A feasibility study by Heart of Wales Property Study has cast doubt on the ability to add classes and facilities at Llansantffraid Church in Wales school.
Building these would have allowed Llansantffraid to take extra pupils from Llangedwyn and Llanfechain. But the feasibility study as well as a business case justification to extend Llansantffraid were not attached to the report.
There was also no detailed explanation given in the report either as to why the decision to close Ysgol Bro Cynllaith in Llansilin should be stopped.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service had asked why these documents that are central to the decision were not attached as part of the report.
A Powys council spokesman said: “The report gives a summary of the issues, and any additional questions will be covered by the portfolio holder or senior officer at the meeting.”
Back in September 2020, when the reorganisation of Llanfyllin catchment area was first propose all three schools, were to be discussed as part of the same “package”.
A decision to start the closure process at Llanfechain and Llangedwyn was approved by cabinet in March and Bro Cynllaith is July.
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