Jacob Williams https://jacobwilliams.com

The ‘future’ plans for post-16 education provision in Pembrokeshire go back at least five years, deep into the Bryn Parry-Jones era.

A lack of political support, momentous procedural cock-ups and legal howlers too numerous to recall meant progress was slow ahead of the big step taken earlier this month.

Out of nowhere a document was put before councillors for approval at our July council meeting.

I’m among those who believe it paves the way for school-based sixth forms to be removed by the back door.

If that’s the desire, it really should be up-front.

This sexily-named ‘memorandum of understanding’ between Pembrokeshire County Council and Pembrokeshire College sets out each party’s role in delivering A-Levels of the future, and how the two will be administered.

Claims that the arrangement is too college-centric have also been made.

It soon became apparent that this agreement would fail to gain the council chamber’s…er…agreement!

To avoid further embarrassment it was shuffled off to an extraordinary meeting of the schools and learning overview and scrutiny committee.

Some wondered why it had never appeared there beforehand. So much for this oft-championed ‘pre-decision scrutiny!’

After a marathon three-hour kickabout at O&S – or the Cwmbetws committee, as it appeared to be – the document was referred back to council with minor cosmetic changes.

All the stops were pulled out by senior officers to make sure the extraordinary council meeting was held pronto – they wanted it sealed, pronto.

Indeed, the 14th August meeting was held just hours before the Welsh Government’s deadline for receipt of objections against PCC’s plans for Haverfordwest’s new English-based secondary school – which includes a sixth form.

Some councillors wondered aloud if a deal had been reached whereby the college would lose any appetite to object to the county town’s new school-based sixth form should the MoU get the thumbs up.

Of course, unless there was something within the MoU which appeased the college, the two should have been entirely unconnected.

In the end it came down to a single vote – passing 25-24 – with eleven councillors absent, not helped (or helped, depending on your outlook) by the hasty arrangement, unprecedentedly timed during the supposedly meeting-free August recess.

Cabinet member and leader of PCC’s Labour group, Cllr. Paul Miller, intervened with “rubbish!” as council chief exec, Ian Westley, early on claimed the MoU would safeguard the future of school sixth forms.

It could be that ‘rubbish’ is one of the more benevolent terms to be levelled at the saga.

A further cabinet clash emerged later in the meeting as council leader, Cllr. David Simpson, took offence to a figurative claim by Cllr. Miller that the council was being ‘bullied’ into approving the MoU.

This open spat wasn’t the new administration’s finest hour, but those cabinet members who went on to vote down the MoU, against the desire of their leader and the authority’s senior unelected officers, was something new for PCC’s top table – and I quite liked it!

Proponents of the deal say sometimes in life you have to be bold and make brave decisions. And those dissenting cabinet members will surely argue that’s exactly what they did.

“Sixth forms might not disappear this year, maybe not even next, but I’m in no doubt that they will go!”
— Cllr. Paul MillerCllr. Miller subsequently wrote an opinion piece for the Western Telegraph, restating his belief that the MoU will lead to the closure of the county’s school-based sixth forms, whether by design or consequence, the reader will decide.

But it’s a subsequent revelation by Cllr. Mike Stoddart over on that other website which looks like it could change the game.

Having dusted off his old university books, Old Grumpy reminds us: “if you can bring your own facts to an argument you can prove almost anything you like,” reinforcing his point with reference to totalitarian regimes!

With his post-meeting access to additional detail, Mike’s research suggests the figures upon which the case was made for the future post-16 provision – compiled by professional officers – were massaged.

For the full picture, head over to his revealing blogpost, here.

The last I heard, Cllr. Stoddart was considering all options, including an extraordinary meeting, to discuss the finessing of the figures – and the decision that was based upon them.

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Reliable sources say some senior County Hall officers are finding it more difficult than others to adjust to the new administration of elected councillors.

We can only hope the culture of challenge blossoms, both among those new cabinet members who now find themselves ‘in charge,’ and backbenchers.

The signs look promising.

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PCC’s so-far bungle-free cabinet, to borrow an infamous quote, gives every impression of having “…the truth on its agenda.”

That may account for this blog’s inactivity of late, although a look through my back-issues confirms blogosphere summers are always quiet.

Whilst I’ve never had a formal comment policy, I have always edited or even given the red light to comments which are off-topic, posts within themselves, offensive in my opinion or legally dubious in my opinion.

This all brings me back to the recent indictment of Pembroke mayor and county councillor, Dai Boswell, on historic child sexual offence charges.

As well as being very serious allegations, they are also before the courts – so I anticipate my comments policy disappointing a few more of you than has been the case so far.