31st
August 2006
Council
Snubs Schools Peace Talks
Inverclyde Council’s embattled
leadership has rejected out of hand peace talks over the schools fiasco, it has
been revealed.
Over
recent months, MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Duncan McNeil, had been
attempting to broker an agreement which would have seen Education Minister,
Peter Peacock, the council’s political leadership and the opposition Labour
group hold crunch talks aimed at arriving at a solution which all sides could
accept.
But,
despite the willingness of the Education Minister and Labour Councillors to try
and resolve the issue, Inverclyde Council has flatly rejected any suggestion of
discussing their plans.
Expressing
his disappointment at the summary dismissal of talks with a good chance of
hammering out a solution which parents, pupils and politicians could back, Mr
McNeil said:
“It
was my belief that there was a chance that, if the Education Minister were to
hold what might be termed ‘peace negotiations’ in Greenock with both the
political leadership of the council and the opposition members, agreement could
be reached on a way forward. Accordingly,
I approached the Education Minister, who was keen to hold such discussions. Indeed, he instructed his officials to meet with the Chief
Executive of Inverclyde Council. I
also spoke to the council’s Labour Group Leader, Cllr Stephen McCabe, who
confirmed his willingness to take part.
“Sadly,
I have now been informed that the leadership have rejected the Minister’s
offer of discussions out of hand. They
have made it clear that they have no desire, intention or scope to change the
proposals and they are determined to proceed as planned.
“I
am disappointed, if not wholly surprised, that this attempt to broker an
agreement has been rebuffed and that the council is determined ignore parents,
pupils and, frankly, just about everyone else and carry on regardless.”
Labour
Group Leader, Councillor Stephen McCabe, added:
“The
Liberal Democrats have no electoral mandate for their secondary schools’
proposals. They fought the last
election promising to keep all 8 secondary schools open and refurbish them
without the use of PPP funding. Now they are proposing to close 6 of these schools and use PPP
funding.
“What’s
more, a number of their leading councillors – including their Education
Convener – are standing down next year so they won’t be around to see their
proposals through. What right do these tired old men have to decide the shape of
secondary education in Inverclyde for the next 30 years?
“If
the Liberals had the courage of their convictions they would put their PPP on
hold until the next election. After
all that election is only 8 months away.
“The
reality, of course, is that they know that it is highly unlikely they will be in
power next May. That is why they are determined to press on regardless with
their PPP to try and tie the hands of the next Council administration. They
have no shame.”
ENDS
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