Delays in decisions on the future of schools in Canton are due to drawn out requests and responses between Welsh Assembly Government and Cardiff Council, it has been learned.
Last week two bus loads of teachers, pupils and parents took to the front of the Senedd to demand a decision from the Assembly on the proposed expansion of the school.
But figures have been received which show Cardiff Council also contributed to delays in moving forward the proposals by three months, while the Welsh Assembly Government is already behind schedule for making the decision.
Ysgol Gymraeg Treganna school in Canton is heavily oversubscribed and the council announced plans to relocate the school for expansion, which included the closure of Lansdowne school, to make new places for pupils in Welsh-language medium primary education.
More than 1,700 objections were received by the council after the proposal to close Lansdowne School, which went straight into the hands of the Welsh Assembly Government in August 2009. Council officers have since received seven requests from WAG to clarify certain parts of their response to objections, and have taken a total of 88 working days to respond to these requests.
On 16 November 2009, council officers received a request for information and took until 15 January 2010 to reply. They received six further requests for information.
Canton councillor Ramesh Patel questioned the council on the dates, after a debate at the Senedd raised questions over delays in schools reorganisation plans – prompting him to ask the executive for the figures released at last week's full council meeting.
"The parents are blaming the Assembly for the delays," Patel said. "But there is clear evidence the delays are not their fault, but the council's. I'm concerned the process the council has got is seriously flawed. There's an indication in these figures that something is not right."
A council spokesperson responded:
"Further to the submission on August 20, 2009 of the Council's response to objections received regarding the proposals for the Canton area, officers have subsequently received a number of requests for information. Such requests are normal for schools organisational proposals.
"These requests have taken a varying amount of time to answer due to the number and complexity of the queries. Often, a response from the Council will prompt Assembly officers to ask further questions. Sometimes, requests received while previous requests are unanswered are better dealt with in a composite response.
"In addition to this, while the Council awaits a decision from the Minister, updated information becomes available to schools officers which is then required by WAG.
"WAG guidance states the intention to make a decision on proposals within six months of a notice being published. The notice relating to this proposal was published on May 20, 2009, which is more than ten months ago.
"While this lengthy process continues, there is a great deal of uncertainty hanging over the schools and communities affected by these proposals. For this reason, the Council would welcome a decision from the Minister as soon as possible."
