Call for Deputy Leader sacking over Llanfair school ‘gagging’ claim

By MyWelshpool reporter and Elgan Hearn, Local Democracy Reporter

A senior councillor has called for Powys County Council’s Deputy Leader to be sacked after claims he was ‘gagged’ at a debate concerning a controversial decision to change the language stream at Llanfair Caereinion’s all-through school to Welsh.

The Leader of the Welsh Conservative Group, Cllr Aled Davies, said he has deep concerns about the conduct of Cllr Matthew Dorrence (pictured) following the heated debate on Tuesday that pushed plans forward to make the change.

Cllr Davies (pictured below) represents Llanrhaeadr yn Mochanant and Llansilin, but schools from this area are part of the Llanfyllin catchment area, and not Llanfair Caereinion.

Cllr Davies said: “I requested to speak at this meeting, and I haven’t been called.”

In the absence of council leader Liberal Democrat Cllr James Gibson-Watt, Labour’s Cllr Matthew Dorrance chaired the cabinet meeting.

Cllr Dorrance said at the meeting: “You’ve not been called Cllr Davies as I received the request just before the meeting.

“I took advice and you’re not a local member for the area and the constitution does not permit you to speak.”

Cllr Davies challenged this and argued that school pupils from “my part of the world” who want to go to a Welsh medium school attend Ysgol Bro Caereinion. Cllr Dorrance brought in the council’s head of legal and monitoring officer, Clive Pinney, to advise on whether Cllr Davies should be allowed to speak or not.

Mr Pinney said: “You’re not the local member for this area, the constitution doesn’t allow you to speak.”

Cllr Davies stressed that children from his patch were educated in Llanfair Caereinion but Mr Pinney replied: “It may impact pupils from your area, it doesn’t make you the local member and it’s the local member who can speak.”

Cllr Davies pointed out that his brother from a neighbouring ward, Plaid Cymru’s Cllr Bryn Davies, had been allowed to speak.

But it was pointed out that Cllr (Bryn) Davies’ ward includes Dyffryn Banw, and pupils go from this area to be taught in Llanfair Caereinion.

Cllr Dorrance said: “You may not like the chair’s ruling, but the chair has authority in this meeting. I’ve taken advice, and my job is to uphold the constitution.

“If members are unhappy with that ruling, I think they should request that the constitution is reviewed by Democratic Services.”

Cllr Dorrance said that comments from local members had already been heard, the proposal had been debated and he was going to ask the education portfolio holder, Liberal Democrat Cllr Pete Roberts to proceed with the recommendation.

Cllr Davies said: “This is frankly ridiculous.”

Cllr Davies was then told to mute or leave the meeting.

Cabinet then went on to the vote to turn Ysgol Bro Caereinion into a Welsh medium school with the transition starting in September 2026.

After the meeting, Cllr Davies issued the following statement:

“I was deeply disappointed at being blocked from making a contribution at the Cabinet meeting last Tuesday when a decision was being made about the future of Ysgol Caereinion.

“There is a convention that Members of the Council are allowed to speak on issues that impact their wards and this Cabinet decision potentially has a great impact on learners in my ward who wish to have their education in Welsh, especially those at Key stage 4 and 5.

“The impact would be exponentially greater if the Council’s plans to remove the Welsh Stream from dual stream High Schools are given the go ahead. The impact on our children’s education and Welsh language would be catastrophic.

“I know Cllr Dorrence doesn’t like to be challenged, especially by a Conservative now that he’s a Parliamentary candidate in the next General Election.

“He should not be allowed to use the Council as a platform to further his own and Labour’s political ambitions. Cllr Dorrence thinks he can get away with his bullying behaviours, but it is simply not good enough to behave in that manner, it brings the Council into disrepute.

“I call on the Council Leader, Cllr Gibson-Watt, who would never stoop that low when he chair’s a Cabinet meeting, to immediately remove Cllr Dorrence from the Cabinet.”