To note any requests to speak on any items that are on the agenda in accordance with the Council’s Public Speaking Scheme (see footnote to this agenda).
Minutes:
The Chair welcomed five members of the public to the meeting and invited them to address Cabinet.
1) Professor David Mond.
Regarding item 3 on the agenda Professor Mond read out the following statement.
My name is David Mond. I’m a professor of Mathematics at Warwick University, and have been coordinating an interdisciplinary undergraduate module on climate change there for seven years. I’m also a member of Extinction Rebellion, because I believe that the government, and society in general, needs to pay much more attention to this desperately worrying threat.
I’m here today because I want to inform councillors of the interim findings of the UK’s Citizens Assembly on Climate Change, which I believe should have some bearing on Warwickshire’s measures to recover from the corona virus pandemic.
Climate Assembly UK was formed at the start of this year by six Parliamentary Select Committees: Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy; Environmental Audit; Housing, Communities and Local Government; Science and Technology; Transport, and Treasury. It met over six weekends from January to May this year.
The assembly had 108 members, randomly chosen to represent a wide range of the UK pop- ulation. They were informed by experts on climate change, economic policy and democracy. The full results of the votes taken at the conclusion of the Assembly will be released when parliament reconvenes in September. Interim results about recovery from the pandemic were published on June 23rd. In summary
• 79% of assembly members ‘strongly agreed’ or ‘agreed’ that, “Steps taken by the gov- ernment to help the economy recover should be designed to help achieve net zero”1; 9% strongly disagreed or disagreed; 12% were unsure.
• 93% of assembly members ‘strongly agreed’ or ‘agreed’ that, “As lockdown eases, gov- ernment, employers and/or others should take steps to encourage lifestyles to change to be more compatible with reaching net zero; 4% strongly disagreed or disagreed; 3% were unsure.”
An executive summary of the interim findings, and in particular these figures, is available via the link2 on the written version of these remarks which I have circulated to you. I have also supplied a link 3 to the June 25th report of the government’s Committee on Climate Change, which argues in support of the views of the UK Climate Assembly that I have reported on.
2. Dominic Harrison
Also regarding item 3, Mr Harrison stated that he was a Warwick resident working with the National Grid with involvement in a carbon capture project. He was also a member of the campaign group, Extinction Rebellion. Mr Harrison made the following points:
· Despite warnings and evidence regarding climate change societies and governments continue on their own path.
· Financial recovery post Covid-19 should place low carbon generation at its centre.
· Pre-Covid-19 levels of carbon emissions should not be allowed to recur.
· The top 200 UK companies have embraced the key messages around carbon generation.
· The BBC has recently reported that a 2 degree C increase in average temperatures will result in a 50% chance of environmental collapse.
· Warwickshire must not allow itself to fall behind.
· It is important to follow the science.
3) Emma Goulbourn
Ms Goulbourn addressed Cabinet on matters regarding Trinity Catholic School in Leamington and made the following points:
· The Interim Executive Board (IEB) had failed her and her family.
· The school was experiencing a reduction in the number of pupils wishing to start there. Many pupils have left and gone to other schools
· In 2019 the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee took evidence from pupils around a change of ethos at the school from caring to uncaring.
· The change in ethos has had an impact on pupils’ mental health.
· The decision to remove teaching assistants from classrooms has led to a decline in progress of pupils requiring additional support. Children that have an Education Health and Care Plan have been removed from classes. To do so is unlawful.
· Pupils that are not Catholic are obliged to undertake religious activities.
· Rebranding is not required. What is needed is care, communication and love.
4) Mr James Sinnott
Regarding Trinity Catholic School Mr Sinnott read out the following statement.
“I hope that you’ve all got sight of the letter that I have submitted for the meeting?
I’ve taken the chance to remind you of what you have said. These are your words. They now have a very hollow ring to them. Issues have been raised repeatedly, as you have sleep-walked into a worsening financial mess.
In 2018 Clive Sentance, Chair of the IEB, stated that the IEB have the “expertise and experience to work with the school over the next 12 months to ensure its future is healthy”.
2019 Clive Sentance stated that the “projected deficit for the end of this financial year is now significantly smaller than originally forecast”.
2020 WCC stated that the school’s “Budget deficit likely to increase” and “Having no clear direction of travel”. The IEB forced on us still “have not produced a deficit recovery plan”!
I’m amazed that since we last met, we are in a worse situation and you’re still digging that hole.
We submitted:
Impact statements – no response.
Petition – no response.
FOI requests, complaints, whistleblowing, investigation requests which all added up to naught.
A council that doesn’t listen. A council lacking in trust.
The current plan, if chosen, is to absorb over £1m worth of debt and starve “other learners, schools and communities” of much needed funds.
Whilst also gifting a prime asset worth a conservative £25m, and probably nearer £50m, to an academy. An asset possibly lost forever. What safeguards have been put in place? Is this all about asset strippers in dog collars? These figures don’t seem to appear in the options appraisal! More public purse being spaffed up the wall – which seems to be a WCC’s approach.
I know that, to you, this is all about money. Scant regard has been given to the standard of education offered to the pupils. The only reason for taking interventions is to prevent the “… prejudicing, or likely to prejudice, such standards of performance”. In all of this sad tale - this fact has been wilfully ignored.
The ‘truth twisters’ can’t be trusted. An independent investigation into how the education department works is the only way to learn lessons. There are other IEBs in Warwickshire – have lessons been learnt?
An academy may well be the best option for Trinity – let’s face it, LA interventions haven’t gone well. What about the most vulnerable students and Peter’s Place – will they fit the Academy model? Or, do they become a liability? We’ve already seen the IEB airbrush them out of the figures. The LA will have no say.
The desperation to dispose of Trinity is evident in the options appraisal, but the money being thrown at this option is staggering and must be open to public scrutiny. Oh, what a tangled web we weave…
5) Ms Christine Burke
Speaking regarding Trinity Catholic School Ms Burke made the following points:
· Trinity School used to stand for equality and dignity.
· The only meeting of the IEB held in 2018 gave assurances that the ethos of the school would not change. This has not been the case.
· The weekly bulletin that is published is a “tick box” exercise.
· Previously, despite budget pressures children thrived. Over time there has been a steady erosion of pupils’ rights and now there is a more of a “boot camp” approach to discipline.
· Some pupils have experienced a crisis of faith.
· Children are being removed from the school.
· The cessation of the bus pass has aggravated the situation.
· The school has seen little investment over the last 20 years
· There remain questions over the sale of the playing fields that require answers.
· What is required is professional collegiate leadership.
The Chair thanked the public speakers and announced that agenda item 7 would be brought forward in the order of business.