Revolt in minister's backyard as row over school closures snowballs

A SCOTTISH council has halted its drive to shut down rural primary schools as the row between ministers and local authorities over school closures continues.

Councillors in Argyll and Bute stopped a consultation looking at proposals to amalgamate 11 primary schools in its area during a meeting of the local authority yesterday. The decision came amid a war of words between the Scottish Government and the Convention of Local Authorities (Cosla) over ministers' demands that there should be no closures for the time being.

Earlier this month education secretary Michael Russell called for a year's moratorium on rural schools closures so that a commission could review the rules governing when institutions should be wound up.

Cosla this week criticised Mr Russell, saying it was "perverse" that no discussion had taken place with local authorities about the commission.

After yesterday's meeting, the council said it did not agree with the minister's request for a moratorium, but had decided to halt closures on the basis that the current legislation on school consultations was "defective".

The council in Mr Russell's Argyll and Bute constituency intends to ask Cosla to investigate how the government implemented the legislation, and will ask it to consider the possibility of a judicial review.

Cosla last night said it would consider the review option.

Independent councillor Dick Walsh, leader of Argyll and Bute, said the decision was taken because Mr Russell himself believed the consultation legislation was flawed.

Mr Walsh said: "It is not appropriate for the council to continue working under legislation which the education secretary himself believes to be flawed and not fit for purpose."

The council, led by a coalition of independents, Tories and Lib Dems, indicated that it would continue with plans to close schools with no pupils.

Cosla president Pat Watters said: "What they have done is taken a sensible course of action, on a sensitive issue, and the right decision for their local circumstances.

"They are absolutely right not to continue down a road in which they would be accused of working under legislation which the education secretary asserts to be flawed.

"Cosla is happy to meet their request that we sit down with the Scottish Government, and we hope that the Scottish Government looks on this request favourably also, and come to the table with an open mind.

"What it does show is the intolerable pressure that can be brought to bear on a local council when a senior Cabinet secretary chooses to deal with what should always have been a national discussion with reference to his own constituency's local council."

A Scottish Government spokesman said: "The decision by Argyll and Bute Council to halt their consultation process is a win-win scenario for parents and the council, and we welcome the sensible approach that has been taken.

"The Scottish Government's proposals have now been welcomed by all sides of the parliament. It is entirely right that we stop and look at the issue Scotland-wide. We want to be fully engaged with Cosla, individual authorities and communities to make sure we are getting it absolutely right for school pupils in rural areas."