County Council slammed over education meeting snub

Cllr Gavin James has written to the leader of Hampshire County Council demanding and investigation into why the County Council failed to send anyone to the scrutiny committee to support joint working on improving schools in the borough.

The Lib Dem group leader who has children attending local schools slammed the County Council sayings "This simply isn't good enough" and called for a "culture change in the attitude the County Council appears to have towards the people of Basingstoke and Deane."

Gavin James says "It is time the County Council started working with us not against us and putting people first."

The letter was sent after a meeting of the Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council scrutiny committee held to understand the performance of secondary schools in Basingstoke which is behind that of both Hampshire and national outcomes.

Schools are managed by the County Council and therefore the borough's influence is limited however, the meeting was an opportunity to understand the challenges schools face and support what should be a shared goal to increase standards in schools and generate better outcomes for our children.

In his letter, Councillor James wrote:

"The County Council failed to provide an officer or portfolio holder to share information, offer advice or answer questions. I understand that despite the advance notice, your education department refused to attend unless the meeting was held in closed session away from press and public scrutiny just a few hours before the meeting was due to be held. The excuse was pathetic and non-attendance appalling."

"This simply isn't good enough. I would ask that you urgently investigate why an offer from us to support the County in delivering the services it is responsible for was rejected in this way. And oversee a culture change in the attitude the County Council appears to have towards the people of Basingstoke and Deane."