The chairman of the Isle of Wight Council, who has just quit the Alliance group over their devolution plans, has called for an extraordinary Full Council meeting to be held to allow a debate surrounding potential school closures.
Councillor Karl Love has taken the decision after listening to the public debates, discussions with councillors and after Cabinet had approved the start of the potential school closures process at a meeting on 12th December.
Councillor Love said:
“Potential school closures are by their very nature very emotive and a matter of significant public interest.
“There is a desire from the general public and many council members in representing this for a Full Council meeting, enabling opportunity to debate the issues involved.
“I understand the need for a Council-wide discussion and airing of the issues to clarify and assist Islanders’ understanding of the process.”
While the council’s role will be to share its views on the matter, the decisions are an executive matter for Cabinet that can only legally be made by the Cabinet. In short, Alliance have the final say no matter what other councillors think.
The meeting will take place on Wednesday 29th January at 18:00.
A good idea but after what happened over the devolution fiasco will it make any difference. The Cabinet will do what it wants to do despite what happens at Full Council
If savings must be made and classes are empty
then the schools in question needs to be closed.
Simple!