Investigation to be debated in Chamber?

The petition you signed calling for 


We the undersigned would like an official investigation into the role of Surrey County Council and its consultancy company Babcock4S in the proposed "take-over" of Kings International School by Tomlinscote School. Particular reference is drawn to the decision making process in the preceding years and to the actual consultation process and its review.


http://petitions.surreycc.gov.uk/SCCeduReview/

Hopefully will get to be debated in chamber as there have been questions if it is still relevant?

Letter to committee attached..

To:
admin@surreyyouthfocus.org.uk,carol.coleman@surreycc.gov.uk,cath.edwards@surreycc.gov.uk,cecile.dorvault@btinternet.com,cherylh@surreycc.gov.uk,chris.townsend@surreycc.gov.uk,Chris@eikon.org.uk,clare.curran@surreycc.gov.uk,colincaswell@blueyonder.co.uk,denise.turner@surreycc.gov.uk,derek.holbird@cofeguildford.org.uk,diana.smith@surreycc.gov.uk,dorothy.rosstomlin@surreycc.gov.uk,duncanhewson@me.com,info@eikon.org.uk,jolene.hill@essnmedia.co.uk,kathy.beresford@surreycc.gov.uk,keith.taylor@surreycc.gov.uk,marsha.moseley@surreycc.gov.uk,nigel.cooper@surreycc.gov.uk,Penny.Plato@babcock.co.uk,peter.lambell@surreycc.gov.uk,rachel.yexley@surreycc.gov.uk,rashid.jussa@surreycc.gov.uk,sally.marks@surreycc.gov.uk,sean.whetstone@gmail.com


On Thu, Sep 29, 2011 at 11:47 PM, Ian Sorby <ian.sorby@gmail.com> wrote:

Members may also be interested to read the legal dissection of SCC's Merger consultation document provided by a lawyer specialising in education matters. At worst it suggests that SCC would have lost a legal appeal at best it shows the slipshod nature of the departments work when subjected to legal review.

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0BwVruf_Q4Uv6ZjA2YjQ2MWItMTkyMS00NTg0LThhNjAtZTFkYmU1Nzc1NGY1&hl=en_US

bregds

Ian..

On Thu, Sep 29, 2011 at 7:59 AM, Ian Sorby <ian.sorby@gmail.com> wrote:

Members of the committee may also wish to acquaint themselves with some of the FOI information that shows the working of the education department here.

http://tomlinscote-kings.blogspot.com/2011/09/camberley-schools-work-together.html

http://tomlinscote-kings.blogspot.com/2011/07/little-history.html

many thanks

Ian Sorby

On Thu, Sep 29, 2011 at 12:17 AM, Ian Sorby <ian.sorby@gmail.com> wrote:

 While the Education Department of Surrey County Council is faced with difficult decisions made all the more complex by uncertainty in population forecasts and by the economic woes, its recent performance leaves considerable room for improvement.

1) The manner in which it relates to the public (PJ Wilkinson as an example) is very poor.  The public are left with the feeling that they are considered as an "inconvenience" to implementation of the will of the department.

2) The manner in which it conducts its business behind closed doors (as revealed by FOI requests) is manipulative to the extent that if certain actions are not actually illegal they are at best cavalier, and certainly immoral.

3) The prosecution of the Tomlinscote-Kings merger was so slipshod in its execution and its failure to have any sort of plan B or C that it raises grave questions as to the competence / arrogance of the department.

The Tomlinscote-Kings merger cost a significant amount of money, and influenced the lives of many people in Surrey Heath.  Some people moved house, some left their jobs and many were so affected that their relationship with their County Council will be materially damaged for years to come.  This was unnecessary if the Education Department had been more efficient and professional in their work.  These problems continue to exist and I feel it is imperative we learn from the mistakes so it does not happen again.

Those involved in the Merger decision from a public side continue to be involved and would be happy to aid Surrey County Council in a review.  An SCC review would be considered preferable to our continuing to investigate it from outside.

bregds

Ian Sorby