It has been the plan to build new schools in Ammanford for a number of years, with the previous Labour administration allocating capital funding for the project prior to 2015. Could the Cabinet Member provide an update on the new Ammanford schools?
Minutes:
“It has been the plan to build new schools in Ammanford for a number of years, with the previous Labour administration allocating capital funding for the project prior to 2015. Could the Cabinet Member provide an update on the new Ammanford schools?”
Response by Councillor Glynog Davies – Cabinet Member for Education & Children:-
“Once again, thanks to Cllr. James. I can't go back to the period before 2015 as it was in 2017 that I joined the Cabinet. Again, I am very aware the plan was originally in Band A and this ran between 2014 and 2019. But, back in 2016, it was decided to move the project to Band B – a year before I became responsible for the portfolio. However, as the plan for Ammanford is developed I’ll keep a close eye on everything that's happening.
Basically, we’ve seen an increase in the number of pupils, partly due to the demand for Welsh primary education in the Ammanford area. This is a good thing.
It was seen the current Bro Banw site and the Welsh School in the town centre was insufficient and it was quite a challenge to find suitable land to cope with that increase. Remember, of course that the number of the children of primary age is considerably large. Over 1000 of them, so we had to consider all kinds of options – and what is suitable for generating a town and the community of Ammanford. Also because of the size of the project we are considering everything as a possible project for MIM, the mutual investment model. I want to emphasise this again, apologies for repeating myself, but maybe not everybody has heard this. But organising primary education in Ammanford is a priority. I have said it in many meetings. It is a priority for myself and it's a priority for the administration and it is within the current MEP. I said this clearly in the Cabinet meeting on the 6th of December. You have just received the minutes. It was a public meeting and members of the opposition are able to be present and join that meeting. I said at that time, completely clearly, that the plans such as Heol Goffa, Bryngwyn, Pembrey, Dewi Sant, Ammanford and Llandeilo would continue at pace. I want to say it once again. These plans will continue quickly. We are developing the projects now. I don't want to say yet how again, how the pandemic has slowed things down because I will just be repeating myself. But everything has been delayed because of it.”
Supplementary Question by Councillor Rob James
“As Glynog has already stated Plaid reduced the priority for Ammanford when they came into power in 2015 from A to B. In the last budget £500,000 was allocated to both schools to draw up proposals with £5 million being allocated for bills this year. It is clear this is not happening as the plans haven't been developed. Can you state how the £500,000 last year was spent and we're still no closer to having new schools in Ammanford?”
Response by Councillor Glynog Davies – Cabinet Member for Education & Children:-
“As I said to Cllr. James, we are developing the project at pace. It’s happening now and developing any project costs money. This work is definitely continuing, whatever you want to say. We live in this area and we know that we are serious about new schools for Ammanford Town.”