Planning Application for Ysgol Dewi Sant : Question to the Cabinet Secretary for Education

Simon Thomas AM:

What discussions has the Cabinet Secretary held regarding plans for a new site for Ysgol Dewi Sant in Llanelli?

Kirsty Williams AM Cabinet Secretary for Education:

Diolch yn fawr, Simon. I have had no direct discussions. It is local authorities, in this case Carmarthenshire County Council, who identify the preferred sites for their school building projects.

Simon Thomas AM:

Thank you, Cabinet Secretary for that initial response. She will be aware, however, that three Estyn reports have now said that the current condition of the school is having an effect on learning in that school, and that the pupils of Ysgol Dewi Sant deserve the best possible education. And that’s the purpose and opinion of the twenty-first century schools programme that her department is responsible for. Today, as it happens, the planning application was formally submitted for the new school. There have been some delays, because there have been complaints that the school will replace what they call a greenfield site. It’s important to underline that this includes public access to the school playing fields, and therefore retains a community element, as everyone, I’m sure, would welcome. Now, if there were to be delays because of this local disagreement, and that were to delay the project, would the Government be in a position to ensure that the capital funding would still be available for this school, given that the pupils, who should be our focus in this context, deserve a new school, and deserve a school of the quality that she puts forward?

Kirsty Williams AM:

Thank you, Simon. You’ll be aware that the Welsh Government considered the outline business case for the project in April 2017, and that I gave my approval to the local authority to move forward with the business case. I am aware of the delays; because of the rules around planning applications, it would not be right for me, or indeed any other Welsh Minister, to comment on those plans. I am pleased that there is community access—that’s an important part of all the projects that come forward. Indeed, it’s one of the core elements of the twenty-first century schools programme that we provide not only fantastic educational facilities, but those facilities are available for wider, public use. The allocations to Carmarthenshire stand at many, many millions of pounds, addressing many schools throughout that area, and my officials will be keeping in close contact with Carmarthenshire about the ability to deliver on those plans, and indeed their applications for investment under band B of the programme.

Lee Waters AM:

I strongly support the call for the money to still be available to build a new school. There’s no doubt that the pupils of Dewi Sant desperately need a new school. But I’m afraid that Carmarthenshire County Council have let them down badly in the way they’ve gone through a process. If you read the business case sent in to the Welsh Government, it’s a masterclass in retrospective rationality. It’s quite clear that council officials have decided this would be an easy site to build on, and worked backward from that assumption. This is a green line in a deprived part of Llanelli, and there are alternative sites available—most notably the Heol Goffa site, which is now going to be vacated, with a new school being built in Delta Lakes for the special school. So, I will be asking the planning Minister to call in this application if the village green application is not successful, because this is not the right place to build a school. But a new school is essential, and I hope the Welsh Government gives clear assurances that funding will be available.

Kirsty Williams AM:

Well, Lee, I can confirm that all education departments approvals for business cases that are submitted by local education authorities, across Wales, are not to prejudice any processes—statutory processes—that are needed. Schools in Carmarthenshire will have seen investment of £87 million in the band A programme, and a further £130 million will be invested as a result of the band B programme. And, as I said in my answer to Simon Thomas, my officials keep in very close touch with all local authorities, to ensure that their programmes are delivered, in the best possible way, for the benefits of the children who attend those schools.