MINUTES of MEETING of the CHILDREN's COMMITTEE Held In

STIRLING COUNCIL MINUTES of MEETING of the CHILDREN’S COMMITTEE held in VIEWFORTH, STIRLING on THURSDAY 19 MARCH 1998 at 10.30 am Present:- Councillor Tommy BROOKES (in the Chair) Councillor Rob BALL Councillor Ian LAMBIE Mrs Heather BOVILL Councillor Corrie McCHORD Depute Provost Margaret BRISLEY Mrs Sheena MacDONALD (Co-opted) Councillor David DAVIDSON Provost John PATERSON (Substitute) Mr Derek ROBERTSON (Co-opted) Councillor Ann DICKSON Councillor Helen SCOTT Councillor Tom HAZEL Councillor Ann STRANG Councillor Helen HODGINS Mrs Pam VINEY (Co-opted) Councillor Pat KELLY Ms Kirsty KENNEDY (Co-opted) Also Present:- Councillor Gillie THOMSON Councillor John WYLES In Attendance:- Mr Pat Begley, Head of Social Work Services, Housing and Social Services Mr Derek Cullen, Principal Officer (Contracts), Education Services Ms Margaret Doran, Head of Services to Schools, Education Services Mr Peter Farquhar, Principal Solicitor, Civic Services Mr Bob Jack, Director of Civic Services Mr Gordon Jeyes, Director of Education Services Ms Linda Kinney, Head of Children’s Services, Education Services Ms Carol Kirk, Principal Officer (Access), Education Services Mr Bob McGowan, Education Development Team Leader, Education Services Ms Felicity McLelland, Head of Community Support, Community Services Mr Don Monteith, Press and PR Manager Ms Jill Preston, Director of Housing and Social Services Mr Ian Robertson, Head of Planning and Resources, Education Services Ms Joyce Allen, Committee Officer, Civic Services (Clerk) Mrs Margaret Murray, Committee Officer, Civic Services Apologies:- Apologies for absence had been received from Councillor Catherine Organ and Mr Tom Boyle. CH108 MINUTES Children’s Committee - 22 January 1998 Decision The Committee approved the Minutes of the Meeting of the Children’s Committee held on 22 January 1998 as a correct record of the proceedings. CH109 QUESTIONS The Chair confirmed that no questions had been received in terms of Standing Order Number 23. CH110 RESULTS OF THE CONSULTATION PROCESS ON THE PROPOSED CLOSURE OF KINBUCK PRIMARY SCHOOL The Chair invited Mr David Barbour to address the Committee on behalf of Kinbuck School Board. Mr Barbour pointed out that the report before the Committee referred to the educational case for the closure of Kinbuck as being strong, which totally contradicted the consultation document which had identified financial considerations as the single strongest argument. He suggested that the consultation process had followed a pre-set agenda. He indicated that the community case for the school remaining open was clear and incontestable and children in Kinbuck enjoyed a first class standard of education. The School Board considered that the small financial saving which would arise from the closure could have been made in an area of education expenditure which could withstand a temporary cut. Mr Barbour also explained that the projected school rolls, based on actual census figures, revealed an intense pressure on primary school provision over the whole of the Dunblane area within the next five years. In light of the Government’s recent announcement on additional spending for front-line services in the classroom, Mr Barbour implored the Committee to look to the longer term and keep Kinbuck Primary School open. On 22 January 1998, (Paragraph CH100 refers) the Committee agreed that the proposed closure of Kinbuck Primary School with effect from 26 June 1998 and the transfer of the pupils to Newton Primary School from session 1998/99 be the subject of formal consultation. All interested parties, including relevant School Boards were invited to make written comments on the proposals to the Director of Education Services and a Public Meeting was held in Kinbuck Primary School. A report by the Director of Education Services provided details of the comments received and made recommendations on the proposals. The Director of Education Services commented that the period of debate, consultation and reflection had shown the high regard in which Kinbuck Primary School was held. He stressed that it was not possible to separate the educational case from the financial considerations, as all the educational issues raised in the consultation document could be countered by significant financial investment. Given the high level of capital investment in primary school provision already undertaken in the Dunblane area and the limited resources available to the Council, it was acknowledged that a major refurbishment of Kinbuck Primary School was not likely to be prioritised in the near future. If the school was to be closed, scarce capital resources could be more effectively targeted in future years. The Director stated that the educational case for transferring pupils to Newton Primary School was very strong. Re-zoning the children to Newton Primary School would improve the quality of the learning environment, provide access to a wider curriculum and give them the opportunity to learn in larger age groups where performance could be assessed and compared using a level playing field. In relation to the pupil roll projections which had been challenged in the course of the consultative process, the Director indicated that at a recent planning inquiry the Secretary of State’s Assessor had found clearly in favour of the Local Authority’s method of calculation. The Director refuted the allegation that the educational case had been neither made nor raised. He stated that, both at the Children’s Committee on 22 January 1998 and at public meetings, it had been emphasised that debate about surplus places should only be taken into the public arena when there were also educational reasons which required to be debated. Thus it was noted that the context was a review of primary education provision taking account educational reasons such as range of teaching and specialist support; facilities and resources; opportunities for peer group action; discussion with children of a similar age; aptitude and ability across the whole curriculum, opportunity to enhance language activity in talking, listening, reading and writing; opportunity for social interaction with children of a similar age; and opportunity to arrange a variety of activities enhancing the formal curriculum. The Director stated that there might not always be agreement about the educational benefits at this stage of a closure debate but that the educational case for closing Kinbuck Primary School was clear. In conclusion, he recommended that the school be closed but that the playground facility be retained as a focal point for children in the village. The Local Member for Kinbuck expressed the view that the consultative process had been undertaken on the financial case for the closure of the school and not on educational considerations. She also referred to the considerable work undertaken within Kinbuck Primary School on the expressive arts which had resulted in pupils at the school winning 15 prizes in recent art competitions. Concern was also expressed that Kinbuck would lose its sense of community if the school closed and families would ultimately leave the village. Motion To approve the recommendations contained in paragraph 3.1 of the submitted report. Moved by Councillor Tommy Brookes, seconded by Councillor Pat Kelly. Amendment Following public consultation on the proposed closure of Kinbuck Primary School and taking into consideration the overwhelming community support for the retention of the school, the Children’s’ Committee instructs the Education Service to identify £33,000 savings elsewhere in the establishment in order to retain Kinbuck Primary School. By taking this action, the Children’s Committee will be demonstrating its support of this Council’s commitment to rural community sustainability and social inclusion in a most practical way. Moved by Councillor Ann Dickson, seconded by Councillor Helen Hodgins. The vote on the Amendment was as follows:- For 6 Against 8 The amendment was defeated by eight votes to six. The vote on the Motion was as follows:- For 8 Against 6 Decision The Motion was carried by eight votes to six and accordingly the Committee agreed:- (1) that Kinbuck Primary School be closed with effect from 26 June 1998 and the pupils transfer to Newton Primary School from the start of session 1998/99; (2) that immediate steps be taken to protect the play facility in recognition of the importance of a focal point for children in Kinbuck village. (Reference - Report by Director of Education Services, submitted). CH111 RESULTS OF THE CONSULTATION PROCESS ON THE PROPOSED CLOSURE OF KINLOCHARD PRIMARY SCHOOL The Chair invited Mr A Price to address the Committee on behalf of Strathard Community Council. Mr Price expressed the view that the report placed too much emphasis on the benefits of peer group interaction and that this was more than compensated for by the vertical interaction amongst children of different age groups and with the wider community in Kinlochard. Pupils from Kinlochard were also high achievers and benefited from the excellent teacher time available within the small school. Mr Price drew the Committee’s attention to the poor condition of the road between Kinlochard and Aberfoyle which was prone to severe flooding around Echo Rock. Mr Price pointed out that the narrowness and winding nature of the road meant that it would be extremely hazardous to transport children to and from Aberfoyle Primary School. In relation to the urgent remedial works required in the Kinlochard building, it was pointed out that Aberfoyle was an older building which would also require investment. In conclusion, Mr Price stressed that Kinlochard Primary School was at the heart of the community and key to the long term sustainability of the area. On 22 January 1998 (Paragraph CH100 refers), the Committee agreed that the proposed closure of Kinlochard Primary School with effect from 26 June 1998 and the transfer of pupils to Aberfoyle Primary School from the start of session 1998/99 be the subject of formal consultation. All interested parties, including relevant School Boards, were invited to make written comments on the proposals to the Director of Education Services and a public meeting was held in Kinlochard Primary School.

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