Only this time the entire argument presented by the majority (though not all) Medway Conservatives has been totally blown out of the water as it is revealed that instead of a fall in pupil rolls, Medway will need thousands of extra primary school places over the next five years.
The local authority predicts the number of pupils attending primary schools will increase by about 2,400 by 2016. The report, which was linked last week and picked up on my twitter, predicts the figure could rise to 23,200 over the next five years.
Gillingham, Chatham and Rochester are most in need of extra places, the report says despite the words in 2009 of the Conservative Portfolio holder.
In 2009, the Tories presented a policy paper on Primary School Change, costing multiple millions of pounds, which based its conclusion on evidence of falling school rolls in the future. The proposal was to close and merge schools across Medway.
The argument was totally false.
The reason why this blog was / is so angered by Medway Conservative arrogance is because despite all the scientific proof that they were wrong, they would not accept fact and then accused Labour of spinning a campaign which was actually run by independent parents who were only concerned for their children's education.
All of the arguments at the time, and it is worth a read, are on the Medway Conservative website which highlights the way in which they dismissed any argument but their own (now seen to be utterly invalid) argument in 2009. They even falsely accused Labour of leaking information on Primary School closures for partisan gain; an utterly craven act at the time which was utterly without any foundation, and which was total fiction.
This blog expected today that the Medway Conservatives would show some humility and indeed basic human decency. Perhaps a mea culpa follow up to the glut of bilge they put out in 2009 spinning a tired yarn of falsehoods.
Unsurprisingly to readers we have had ZERO statements on the Conservative website and a brazen attempt to finger point to officers, when it is clear portfolio holders are responsibe for scrutinising their own departments.
It is the Tories that have played politics on this issue right from the very start.
Cllr Les Wicks wrote on the 10th July 2009 that 'Labour are more concerned with scoring points than the children's future' and even brazenly accused Labour of 'shame on school leak' when it became apparent the full list of school changes had actually be released earlier by the Council, no apology was forthcoming.
He continued
'that the government’s Primary Capital Programme for Medway, which the Labour group has so far opposed and attempted to undermine at every turn, proposes to impartially invest in schools which are in need of refurbishment... Let’s be clear, the Labour group in Medway are not interested in the well-being of children – instead they are intent on political point scoring. In comparison, the only concern for the Conservatives on Medway Council is the long-term interests of all our children in Medway'
Meanwhile Cllr Jarrett went even further in his article entitled 'Labour group would threaten every school with closure as their attempt to derail consultation with primary schools fails' on 19th June 2009; stating that
'Medway’s Labour group have failed to suggest any alternatives to address surplus places in Medway; something that the government has told us that we have to deal with. Their only suggestion is to start again which would threaten every school with closure and create uncertainty for our children for months on end.'
Labour did not provide alternative suggestions because we did not accept there were surplus places over the medium term. An argument that was eventually accepted by the impartial Schools Adjudicator and which is now seen to entirely correct.
Cllr Jarrett continued to burble the same tired line on 17th June 2009 when he accused Labour of 'threatening' £30m investment in Medway's schools'
'Labour councillors have, at every turn, opposed changes to primary schools in Medway, without suggesting any alternative solutions to address surplus places
Guidance issued to Medway Council under the Primary Capital Programme states that “strategies that fail to commit to addressing surplus capacity at local authority or individual school level will not be approved”, and that plans must “ensure that no school has more than 25% surplus places” and “reduce overall surplus places to less than 10% across the local authority area'
Councillor Jarrett is responsible for scrutinising numbers and detail on figures every day. How could he get basic demographics so wrong? A major question on his ability to process and scrutinise information therefore arises; is he competent enough?
The fact is Cllr's Wicks and Jarrett spent most of May & June 2009 effectively basing their argument on surplus places. They had opportunity to review the counter argument but chose not to and as a result schools have closed and parents given unnecessary stress.
Even worse - on the back of incorrect data, the Conservative authority chose to close Ridge Meadow
Residents today will making judgements on the character of our elected representatives.
A full, public and open apology should be forthcoming.
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