Ceidwadwyr / Conservatives

Safbwynt y Ceidwadwyr / The Conservatives' standpoint (1 Cynghorydd / 1 Councillor)

CONFLICTING MESSAGES FROM THE CONSERVATIVES!

I am the only Conservative Councillor on Carmarthenshire County Council and I voted in favour of receiving the report of the Executive Board meeting held on 1st November 2004 at which the Modernising Education Provision draft implementation plan was approved.

I support the principle of the Modernising Education Provision draft plan and recognise the need to rationalise education resources in Carmarthenshire. I do not see the sense in maintaining schools where the vast majority of that school's budget (after wages) goes on building maintenance and very little resources are actually directed into the education of the pupils.

I do see the need for the County Council to act sensitively with regard to the Welsh language, which is a very important consideration but the primary and overriding consideration should be for the education of the children of Carmarthenshire. If individual schools earmarked in the draft plan make a good case for retention then I would be more than happy to support that case and vote accordingly when the draft plan becomes the final plan at a future date.

I have a lot of sympathy with your point of view and would encourage you to support any individual school or schools which you feel need to be retained and trust you will make as vigorous representations as you did outside County Hall last Wednesday. I made the point of listening to the arguments most eloquently put by your speakers but I regret that as long as Carmarthenshire runs such a high count of surplus places in the County's schools and that resources are spent so inefficiently I feel compelled to support the principle of rationing education provision in Carmarthenshire. I do not blindly support the Administration in Carmarthenshire and am open to representations from individual schools when the final plan comes before Full Council in the future however in this case, so far, I feel the Authority are pursuing the right policy.

Cllr John Jenkins (Conservatives)
Carmarthenshire County Council

I do not support the strategy in Carmarthenshire, but we haven’t been able to have a discussion with the Council as of yet. The Conservative’s policy is to keep small rural schools open whenever possible. I have already asked a question in the Welsh Assembly, but the Minister would not answer – as usual. A lot of water will run under the bridge before we get to the truth.

Glyn Davies (Conservative Regional AM – Mid and West Wales)

I very much welcome the formation of this grouping to campaign against the closure of small schools in Carmarthenshire.

Nick Bourne (Leader Welsh Conservatives)