The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Council’s steps to secure future of school is ‘amazing outcome’
EDUCATION: Catchment area to be reviewed after closure overruled
A full scoping report in November will examine how to ensure Abernyte Primary School’s future.
A drawn-out saga has seen Perth and Kinross Council’s decision to axe the small school overturned.
The Scottish Government’s school closure review panel (SCRP) overruled council chiefs’ plans following a probe which reached the Court of Session.
Councillors had their first chance this week to question the administration and officers on their decision to spend almost £110,000 on the legal challenge.
Financial officers say there will be “potentially no impact on the council” budgets despite the six-figure bill, as it finished last year with an underspend.
Officers said the challenge was mounted following a “substantial shift” in the application of legislation protecting rural schools.
Education bosses say the call-in was “out of kilter” and that Judge Lady Wise took a “very broad interpretation” of the threshold for action outlined in the law.
While the council believes “a different judge may have taken a different view”, the case was thrown out and the closure was overturned by SCRP members on all criteria.
Conservative Callum Purves said it was “morally wrong” for unelected officials to take legal action.
Members of the lifelong learning committee agreed to a catchment review, including the possibility of nursery provision at the school.
The steps were agreed unanimously, which parent council chairman Gerard McGoldrick said is “an amazing outcome”.
SNP councillor Henry Anderson called for an apology to parents, while Carse councillor Angus Forbes said a council decision being overturned in such a manner is democratically questionable.