Nigel Martin

We were called to a meeting with the Director of Young People’s Services yesterday to discuss the DJ admissions situation.

The key thing that we got clear is that by the criteria that the Council use, Gilesgate Comp is closer to Shincliffe and Bowburn than Durham Johnston - not by road (see earlier posting on this) but by ‘walking route’.

It appears that walking routes allow for the use of any road and any public footpath. This means that going across country via Bent House Lane brings Gilesgate 0.36 miles closer than the Johnston. The fact that no parent with any serious consideration for the safety of their child would allow them to use that route on a dark winter afternoon is not a consideration it seems!

The rest of the discussion then revolved around bussing arrangements and the duty of the authority to provide for transport for any child whose parents selected the closest school, together with the fact that families on free school meals or family tax credit will necessarily have their transport costs covered to any school between 2 and 6 miles.

Basically the whole thing is a mess so I wait with anticipation for the Council Cabinet meeting which will make the decision (due on 14 April).

One futher thing about the meeting that I was not happy with.

It was scheduled for 10 and as we Lib Dem Councillors arrived, the local Labour members accompanied by our MP (who appears to have turned up without a direct invitation) left the Director’s office.

I told the Director and Councillor Vasey, the responsible cabinet member, that I was not impressed by there being separate meetings, especially as no-one had told me that this was the case. But that’s how things get done at County Hall.