Amble School commitment drop needs explanation or put back on the table

As you'll know over recent years the County Council has been working with James Calvert Spence College to develop a new building and refurbishment of the existing site to provide the best educational facilities for students.

This was following political commitments made to support the school and area by the then Leader, Cabinet Member responsible for schools and Business Chair.

After a lengthy project development stage with architects and capital investment team meetings the business case was ordered by the Director of Children's Services and Deputy Chief Executive back in March 2016.

Officers gave a presentation to Capital Works Cabinet Advisory Group in April of 2017 as the project was ready for that stage of the process.

The cabinet advisory group committed the funding and reccomended the Cabinet approved its decision.

Unfortunately the Cabinet then had a political change the Conservatives took control and they first met in July 2017. The Conservative Council changed he Cabinet process to a single Party group, it had previously been a mixed Cabinet and the leaders of all political parties sat on it.

At the July meeting the decision was taken NOT to proceed with the commitments made to the school and the recommendation of the Cabinet Advisory Group was rejected.

There was little to no reason give as to why the Conservatives pulled the project. 

James Calvert Spence was part of the education investment planned by the then Labour Group. Clearly identified in the Capital Finance Plan.

The minutes of the Cabinet Advisory  Group in April clearly identify where the money was being allocated from within the 2016/17 budget. It's not true to say they stopped the entire Capital spend in the County Council.

Ponteland Schools £55million was confirmed and given he green light to proceed.

Morpeth School despite no location being identified or any work on design completed was given political thumbs up. One MUST ask why not Amble???

It's been a waste of lots of people's hard work and a glimpse given to the Community about what one group of politicians were giving and what the others took away.

If the other Towns hadn't proceeded you'd understand it a little more. But as they others proceeded with some no more than a commitment with no plans then a fully costed, designed and ready project should also have continued.

Thanks to everyone who's been in contact and offered support to us to fight this decision. It's likely a petition will be launched by the end of September calling for the plans to be progressed.