Tories form Cabinet but opposition take scrutiny chairs...

With 19 of the 42 seats on the Wyre Forest District Council it was inevitable that Tories would appoint an administration and form a Cabinet last night led by Tory Leader Cllr Stephen Clee.

However there was two hours of intense debate and negotiation before the Annual Meeting of Council actually started. The Tories had wanted a series of policy panels chaired by Conservatives leaving just one scrutiny committee instead of the previous four scrutiny committees. The opposition were broadly unanimous that they felt that this effectively eliminated opportunity for effective scrutiny of cabinet decisions and that scrutiny committees should be chaired by the opposition.

The outcome was in order to get agreement on the formation of a Conservative Cabinet (which the opposition could have blocked on a vote but without having a viable alternative themselves) the Tories eventually agreed that the proposed Policy Panels become Police AND Scrutiny Committees of which 2 would be chaired by Liberals, 2 by Health Concern and 1 by Labour.

The overall Cabinet Scrutiny Committee will be chaired jointly by the two main opposition leaders - Liberal Cllr Mike Oborski and Health Concern Cllr Ken Stokes.

The Policy and Scrutiny Panel Chairmen are:-

Environment & Economic Regeneration : Liberal Councillor Fran Oborski

Finance & Corporate Affairs : Liberal Councillor Graham Ballinger

Community & Leisure Services : Health Concern Councillor Brian Glass

Commercial Services : Health Concern Councillor Mike Shellie

Housing, Health & Rural Affairs : Labour Councillor Chris Nicholls

The Conservative Cabinet Members are:-

Leader : Cllr Stephen Clee

Environment & Economic Regeneration : Cllr James Dudley

Finance & Corporate Affairs : Cllr John Campion

Community & Leisure Services : Cllr Nathan Desmond

Deputy Leader & Commercial Services : Cllr Marcus Hart

Housing, Health & Rural Affairs : Cllr Maureen Aston

Liberals backing local schools...

It's what they do not what they say that matters...

On the Wyre Forest Conservative Party website they boast that their national education policy means "thousands of extra classroom places in hundreds of additional new schools will be opened up in England, popular and successful schools will be allowed to expand".

Here in Wyre Forest they plan fewer schools and destroy excellent schools like Lea Street First School.

Best political album ever?

Look out for The Creekdippers "Political Manifest". It is brilliant but I don't think G W Bush will be buying a copy.

ACCLAIMED SONGWRITER MARK OLSON PENS POLITICAL MANIFEST, A MUSICAL REACTION TO THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION.

JOSHUA TREE, Calif. – Americana Singer/Songwriter Mark Olson, with support from his wife, beloved artist Victoria Williams, has written and recorded Creekdippers - Political Manifest, a collection of songs addressing the, “dangerous direction the country has headed under the presidency of George Bush,” said Olson from his home in the California desert. “Between a war fought by a disproportionate number of immigrants and the poor, and economic and environmental policies that puts Corporate America over everything, I couldn’t sleep anymore and I’m a writer so I wrote.” Olson said he plans on touring and playing the new songs right up to the election. “When we play music and get the people moving, that’s the best, a way to get people talking: it’s important that people start talking and voting.”

With songs like “Poor GW,” “End of the Highway, Rumsfeld,” “Duck Hunting,” and “Portrait of a Sick America,” Creekdippers - Political Manifest speaks to the issues and concerns that Americans of all political affiliations face in a divisive election year.

Available: 28th June 2004.  Review by Mark Whitfield 

Olson and company  go on a real crusade to make the most important americana album of the year. First off, this reviewer realises that giving a “10” to a record so soon into our new scheme of more vigilant scoring for albums might raise a few heckles, but on the criteria of whether this record doesn’t just excel in all the usual ways a top album does, but goes one further than that and provides a genuinely revolutionary listening experience, then, in both sense of the word (pun intended) it absolutely does.  “It seems like everybody is aware of the fact that the United States is run by the most corrupt, cruel and disgusting government ever in their history with blood all over their hands... but surprisingly none of the great rock bands and songwriters so far has put these feelings into a set of songs.” The unusal ferocity of the press release alone (and let’s face it, Glitterhouse is hardly some tin-pot hick label) is testament to the strength of feeling present on this hugely angry and polemical record, and in a sense distributors Pinnacle are to Olson what Miramax are to Michael Moore – the way and means of getting out a hugely important message to people at a crucial time. Mark Olson and Victoria Williams themselves have always had a knack for beautifully understated pieces of lowkey americana, by a tried and tested combination of harmony vocals, crushing chord changes, light touch (though increasingly varied) instrumentation and empathetic and compassionate, often American rural working class, lyricism. That empathy has always been so believably achieved by a sense of justice and anger that’s run through their material from the very beginning, but here, for obvious reasons, it comes to the fore.  The songs themselves are topnotch Olson material – “Poor GW” talks about the President’s crimes getting higher every day backed by a country-blues riff and Williams’ almost Gospel like vocals. “Portrait of a Sick America” is beautifully conceived: “I’m gonna punch George Bush…I’m gonna stuff the Sermon on the Mount down his throat, And the women will sing praises over his beaten body “ sings Olson, wryly turning Bush’s absolute religious certainties in on themselves. Country ballad “The End of the Highway” talks about Rumsfield and co. “nodding off like the Old Generals do” with no place left for them to hide. It’s a hopeful close to an album that obviously really sees this administration as an aberration that will be remembered with shame for many years to come, almost a warning sign for future generations.  Ultimately, it’s actually a much better record than their other studio album “Mystic Theatre” this year – it feels more complete and, well, essential – and that’s the point.  In being the first band, certainly americana band, to come out and record a whole collection of themed songs about the risible, sinister government currently running the United States, the government which has cast aside all the great achievements of the twentieth century – the United Nations, the ban on torture, the list goes on – they’ve tapped into the righteous anger felt by millions, billions indeed across the globe, and put that anger into music.  Americana, if nothing else (as has been argued many times on these pages) should be an art form representing the real hopes and fears of ordinary men and women, and in that sense Olson and the Creekdippers have recorded not just the most important album of the year, but one of the most groundbreaking americana records ever recorded - the voice of the “other” America, that needs to be heard now more than ever. www.politicalmanifest.com

Online not?

The Wyre Forest Schools Area Review paper for the July 5th Cabinet Meeting was issued last night. Is it on the County web site? Not at 11.35am today it wasn't. Check for yourself to see if it turns up.

The Lady at the back...

Fran made it to last night's meeting of Head Teachers, Governors and Councillors for a briefing on the report on the review of Wyre Forest Schools which goes to Cabinet on July 5th. I was tied up elsewhere.

Fran tells me that at one point in the question and answer session that followed the presentation the Director of Education said that he would now take a question from "the lady at the back".

The "lady at the back" was actually the Head Teacher of one of the schools to be closed if the package goes ahead. One would have thought that the Director might have remembered her name.

Telling staff...

Head Teachers at the Meeting were left with two possibilities (a) phone staff at home last night after the meeting  -not nice if it's closure, or (b) tell them this morning - if they haven't already found out from someone at the meeting or on the radio.

I just don't understand  why Heads could not have been informed of the recommendations yesterday afternoon in order to tell their staff at the end of school.

Life at County Hall (1)…

Yesterday I went down to County Hall to pick up a copy of the report on the future of Wyre Forest schools which was to be presented to a meeting of Head Teachers, Chairs of Governors and Councillors in Stourport last night prior to consideration by the Cabinet on the 5^th July.

I had been previously told that it would be in pigeon holes in the Members Room late afternoon and, indeed, officers confirmed yesterday that it would be there at 4.50pm.

At 5.00pm I was sitting in the Members Room with Lib-Dem Councillor Liz Tucker and a friend who is a School Governor.

A Council Officer came in and asked if we were waiting for the report. He then explained that they had already been posted a few minutes previously and that - wait for it - there wasn’t now another copy available in the building!!!!!!!!!!

Liz, who is easily one of the smartest County Councillors has this beautiful ability to switch on an extremely threatening soft-keyed iciness when crossed. She indicated very gently and softly in a voice of cold steel that photocopies would be acceptable, that with all it’s considerable resources the County Council should be able to manage that and that she and I were not planning to go anywhere in the forseeable future.

The officer duly retreated saying that he would see if anything could be done.

He returned a moment later with two full copies of the report!

Life at County Hall (2)…

Overnight I issued a synopsis of the recommendations and my comments (they are posted below) by e-mail to the Kidderminster Shuttle and The Express & Star and arranged to do an interview with BBC Radio Hereford Worcester at 7.40am this morning.

I received an e-mail in reply from a journalist thanking me for the information and telling me that the County Council had planned to brief journalists at Noon today.

What exactly is the point of briefing journalists at Noon today on a report that became public at 7.00pm last night when the deadline for today’s evening papers is before Noon today?

Conclusions?

School review - going to Hell in a bucket!

Worcestershire’s Director of Education Julien Kramer is recommending scrapping the three tier system (First, Middle And High Schools) in Wyre Forest and switching to two tier (Primary and Secondary).

The plan, which was explained to Wyre Forest Head Teachers, Chairs of Governors and Councillors tonight, will go to the July 5th Meeting on the Cabinet. If they decide to proceed there will be a further period of consultation on the Director’s recommendation before a final Cabinet decision in October.

Under the Director’s recommendation effectively First and Middle Schools would close on 31st August 2007 and the new Primary Schools would be established from 1st September 2007.

In Bewdley the new Primary Schools would be Far Forest Primary, St Annes Primary , Upper Areley, Primary and Wribbenhall Primary.

In Stourport the new Primary schools would be Areley Kings Windmill Primary, Burlish Park Primary , Hartlebury Primary , Lickhill Primary , Stourport Primary and Wilden Primary.

In Kidderminster the proposed new schools are Birchen Coppice Primary, Chaddesley Corbett Primary, Cookley Seebright Primary, Comberton Primary, Foley Park Primary, Franche Primary, Marlpool Primary, Offmore Primary, St Georges Primary, St Johns Primary, St Marys Primary, St Oswalds Primary, Sutton Park Primary, Spennells Primary and Wolverley Sebright Primary.

The three existing local Primary Schools, Bayton Primary, St Ambrose Primary and St Wulstans Primary, would remain unchanged.. Consideration would be given to switching Sytchampton First School into the Droitwich Pyramid.

Clearly the “new” Primary Schools would actually be based on existing First and/or Middle school sites.

It's a total disaster...

Clear losers which would disappear are the existing St Barnabas First School, Lea Street First School and Stone First School.

At High School level the Directors recommendation of either retaining all three Kidderminster High Schools (Baxter and Wolverley on existing sites and King Charles on its existing or a new site) OR of opting for just two Kidderminster High Schools (Baxter on its existing site and King Charles on a new site). Stourport High School and Bewdley High School would remain under both proposals.

Liberal County Councillor Mike Oborski said today that “the proposal is a complete slap in the face for local public opinion which is overwhelmingly behind the existing three tier system”.

“All this proposal does is to destroy a first rate and highly popular Middle School system with no guarantee of improved educational standards at the end of the process.”

Cllr Oborski described the planned closure of “Stone, St Barnabas and Lea Street First Schools as total vandalism. They are deeply loved, highly successful and passionately loved and supported local community schools.”

Holiday crackdown on young yobs

Kidderminster Chronicle reports...

Holiday crackdown on young yobs

Tough new powers will be used in Kidderminster to protect residents from nuisance youths during the school holidays.

In the stocks...

Spent this afternoon in the stocks, alongside fellow local Liberal Councillor Graham Ballinger, being pelted with soaking wet sponges at the Lea Street First School Summer Fayre.

Strangely enough a lot of enthusiastic patrons said they would rather have seen George Lord, June Longmuir, Stephen Clee, Julien Kramer or Colin Weedon in the stocks instead. Can't think why!

and then the Party...

Our younger cats - Janusz the black tom and Małgi the grey tabby queen - celebrated their first birthday (yes we do know their actual date of birth) tonight with a party which was, in actual fact, a get together for our Councillors. We spend so much time on Council business and Ward work it was just nice to have a little time and space to socialise.

Tory Talk (1)...

The Wyre Forest Conservative web site declares "

"We will work with all other councilors, who will work with us, to promote our Concervative agenda, but we will not compromise and make a pact with any other party."

Translation: Err, vee von't vork mit anyvun unless zey do exactly vat vee tell zem and obey zee orders zat all times!

Yes, it's "Splat the ref with Worcester Sauce" time!

For those in mourning today there is always this mindless BBC Radio Hereford and Worcester game!

"Local" Lib Dem web site not exactly local in content...

The Wyre Forest Liberal Democrat web site is interesting largely because the nearest it gets to Wyre Forest is a feature on the 2001 Ludlow General Election result!

Looks like the Lib Dems have given up on local stuff and are resorting to some sort of generic national party package. Shame that!

The end of democracy...

Fran and I ended the day feeling pretty rough. Why? Because we spent the morning at County Hall.

In the old days a major issue ended up at full Council. You had your say and then there was a vote.

Not any longer. Today the Cabinet take all the decisions. The Council debates but it has no power.

The consultation on the review of Wyre Forest Schools has been running for nearly a year.

The actual consultatation process has been a total farce but that is another story.

In early June this year all members of the Council were invited to a "seminar". We were pointlessly presented with an update of the pre-Consultation presentation of Spring 2003. It was all rather pointless.

Today full Council "debated" the review of Schools in Wyre Forest. It was of course not allowed to vote on anything.

Taking place today, 24th June, our comments could not possibly influence, inform or affect the options to be put to Head Teachers, Chairs of Governors and Wyre Forest Councillors on Monday 28th June. We "debated" without any idea of what is in those options.

Neither do we have any opportunity to discuss the Cabinet proposals which will magically emerge at the Cabinet meeting on July 5th.

So of the eleven Wyre Forest County Councillors ten of us (5 Health Concern, 2 Liberals, 2 Tories and 1 Liberal Democrat) will never have a chance to vote on the proposals for the future of schools in Wyre Forest. Of the ten Cabinet Members who will have a vote only one comes from Wyre Forest - Health Concern's John Gordon. The other nine Cabinet Members (5 Tories, 2 Labour, 1 independent, 1 Liberal Democrat) do NOT come from Wyre Forest.

Is this democracy? Is this representative local government? I don't think so. That is why we are so sad tonight.

Nor will things get any better. The Agenda for the single issue Cabinet Meeting on July 5th simply says Review of Wyre Forest Schools "Report to follow".

When the report is presented to the June 28th meeting of Wyre Forest Head Teachers, Chairs of Governors and Councillors our guess is that it will only present "options" so you still will not know what they really have up their sleeves.

The rabbit will only be pulled out of the hat when they announce their decision at the July 5th Cabinet meeting.

Open government and democracy are dead and buried in Worcestershire!

Wyre Forest Review of Schools...

Speaking in the "debate" at County Hall this morning Cllr Mike Oborski said...

"Chairman,

It is shameful that only 30 members, out of the 52 in the building, stayed in the Chamber to hear the portfolio Holder introduce this debate. Although perhaps, like me, they feel feel that this voteless "discussion" is a farce.

It comes far too late to influence and inform the options which will go to Cabinet.

Conversely, it comes, by definition, too early to allow us to comment on the actual proposals from the Cabinet!

This discussion is simply designed to give some very flimsy democratic sheeps clothing to a most undemocratic wolfe of a decision making process.

This is a bad day for democracy!

I feel better now!

The message from local residents on the East of Kidderminster is quite clear: "if it aint broke don't fix it".

On the side of Kidderminster represented by Fran and myself support for the Three Tier structure is overwhelming. Not unanimous of course but nevertheless absolutely overwhelming.

Our Middle Schools are enormously popular. Comberton Middle School is a truly first rate school.

There is strong opposition to the suggestion of merging Sladen and Sion Hill Middle Schools and I have to say the wording of the proposal, in the second round of consultation, to merge them on one or other of the two sites, was not helpful. Parents kept saying to us "How can we comment if we don't know which site they are talking about because that makes all the difference to us". I am very doubtful if a merger can work on either site. The travelling distances are too great. It is just one of the many proposals that you could impose but where they won't work out because parents will simply vote, in this case literally, with their feet.

Above all there is complete, total and absolute support for the retention of very local, very community based schools for the very youngest children. There is no support for the idea of "federation" which was received with what can only be described as a mixture of horror, ridicule and derision.

The message from our area is clear. Keep Offmore First School. Keep Comberton First School. Keep St. Mary's First School. Keep St. George's First School. Don't merge Stone and Spennells First Schools, and, yes there is one other school - Keep Lea Street First School!

That is the message from our area and it is the same message that is coming from everywhere in Wyre Forest. Keep local, community based First Schools!

I suspect that the issues concerning the Kidderminster High Schools have not got across fully to the public across the whole of the area. This may be because people understandably view the issues rather parochially and the catchment areas at High School level are so large that the problems in other areas seem very distant and remote.

Personally I believe that if the number of Kidderminster High Schools has to come down to two, and that may be unavoidable, then it should be accomplished by closing all three existing schools and opening two new ones. I have to say that we must retain a West Kidderminster and an East Kidderminster High School and that has serious implications and knock on effects.

We also have to face up to the question as to why so many parents are opting out of Kidderminster to send their children to Hagley. There are serious issued and implications to be faced.

Chairman, one has to accept that change is inevitable because of the need to remove empty places which are a real financial drain on the system.

Change is also inevitable because times move on and educational needs and demands change with the times and our children always deserve the very best we can offer.

Much has been said about raising standards. However I have heard nothing to explain how simply changing the system will of itself improve standards. It may. It may not. It may of course do exactly the opposite.

Certainly I cannot accept that the total disruption of schools and the alienation of parents can in any way contribute to improving standards.

To summarise the message from the East of Kidderminster Chairman:-

- Keep the three tier Middle School system;

- Keep local community based First Schools.

It comes down to a plea for sensible modification of the system NOT change for the sake of change.

Don't throw the baby out with the bath water.

Where it aint broken don't fix it!

Special School Review...

Speaking in the debate at County Council on the future of Special Education in the County Cllr Fran Oborski said...

Chairman.

Twentyeight years ago I had a one-year fulltime secondment at Birmingham University to study for a B.Phil (Ed) in Special Education to equip me for senior management positions in Special Educational Needs.

These days more SEN pupils are placed  in mainstream schools but the training opportunities for teachers have diminished.

If the cabinet accepts the principles of the SEN review it must not swallow all the officers predictions on numbers and it MUST invest a tremendous amount in training for mainstream teachers.