Date: 5th March 2010

Delce Schools Condemned by Tories’ U-turn

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Opposition members, and representatives of both Delce Juniors and Infants, looked on in horror as the Tory Chair of Children’s Overview and Scrutiny moved an amendment to negate the motion to save the Delce Schools at last night’s Full Council meeting.
This was despite the fact that he and all of his Conservative colleagues on the committee had voted with members from the other parties to prevent the amalgamation only a couple of weeks ago.
The amendment, which claimed the decision was only in the hands of the Schools Adjudicator, was shown to be incorrect when the legal officer finally ruled that it could go back to Cabinet, should the members choose.
Cllr Teresa Murray, who represents Rochester East ward where the schools are sited, and who moved last night’s original motion, said,
“Over the past few years I’ve seen some craven, shameful behaviour from the Tories, but this plumbed new depths.  The Chair of O&S had whole-heartedly supported the Delce schools when this came to committee, and yet last night he was the one to move the amendment, and it was seconded by another Tory member of that committee.  Their ridiculous claim was that ‘they hadn’t heard the Cabinet’s argument’.”
“The amendment itself was wrong.  They claimed that it was for the Schools Adjudicator to decide about amalgamation.  It took three attempts, but my colleagues and I finally got an answer from the legal officer, that this wasn’t the case- it could go back to Cabinet, and the Cabinet could change its mind.”
“The representatives of the schools were left shell-shocked and dispirited that elected members, and especially those who apparently supported their cause, could behave in such a way.  Last night proved it was never about listening to what was best for children’s education, and all about the Cabinet getting their own way.”
Cllr Nick Bowler, the other Rochester East councillor, said,
“To make matters worse, two other Tories tried to curtail the debate by calling for it to go to the vote almost immediately, but were overruled.  I was also not surprised that so many Conservative members, including three from Rochester, were absent last night- were they too ashamed to put their names to this amendment, or just too busy to debate this important issue?  It’s hardly surprising given that they’ll have to face the voters of Rochester having let them down so badly.”

ENDS

For further comment please contact Cllr Teresa Murray on 07855 378043 or Cllr Nick Bowler on 07793 806011.  Alternatively contact the Group office on 01634 332393.

Notes to Editor

The Conservative members of the Overview and Scrutiny committee, who all voted in favour of not amalgamating the Delce schools, are: Cllrs Andrew, Avey, Baker, Kenneth Bamber, Brake, Carr, Clarke, Gulvin, Kemp,  Maisey.  Last night, Cllr Brake moved the amendment and Cllr Carr seconded it.  Cllrs Clarke and Gulvin were absent.
Cllrs Janice Bamber, Reh Chishti, Jane Chitty, Sylvia Griffin, Vaughan Hewet and Mark Reckless were also absent.