School building

• howard mcsweeney1

  • Location: Dover
  • Registered: 12 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 62,352
  11 February 2011     13:1692296
  #1      
  6 local authorities including kent county council took the government to court after the "building schools for the future" programme was drastically slashed.
  
  the judge decided that the government had acted unlawfully by not consulting with the local authorities.
  
  the judge added that the actions of the education secretary amounted to "an abuse of power".
• Guest 640

  • Registered: 21 Apr 2007
  • Posts: 7,819
  11 February 2011     13:4492302
  #2      
  This is at least the second failure Gove has had and he is only in the job a wet day. His school sports cuts had to be reined back substantially too, and now his school building programme is in disarray. He rode roghshod over committments to rebuild these schools and upset almost everybody in the process.
  
  I personally have no faith in this guy..he always comes across to me as ever so slightly deranged which I think Ive mentioned before.
  email: dover7@msn.com
• Guest 660

  • Registered: 14 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 3,205
  11 February 2011     13:4692303
  #3      
  It is good when the Tory KCC sue the Tory Goverment over the BSF that is so important to our Schools,as I understand it KCC had to pay over £2 million to builders where the contracts had been signed and work cancelled.
  If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble!
• howard mcsweeney1

  • Location: Dover
  • Registered: 12 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 62,352
  11 February 2011     13:4992305
  #4      
  that's right john, all 6 local authorities had put pen to paper on contracts and were liable to pay out large sums for nothing.
  
  mr gove had clearly not understood the situation rushing headlong into his policy.
• Guest 655

  • Registered: 13 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 10,247
  11 February 2011     13:5692308
  #5      
  Not everything is based on a party political assessment John (not as far as Conservatives are concerned anyway)
  
  Besides the judgment was a bit mixed anyway and was by no means wholly in the council's favour. He found against the government in 5 cases.
  
  It appears that on the 'substantive issues' the Government actually won.
  
  The judge said that, regardless of the ruling, that Gove was still responsible for which schools would or would not be built, and said "No one should gain false hope from this decision".
  
  Contrary to PaulB, and despite some reservations I have on some details of what he is doing, Gove is one of the most able of Ministers of this or any generation.
• Guest 655

  • Registered: 13 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 10,247
  11 February 2011     14:4792314
  #6      
  Following on from my last post I have just read an article, its here http://www.spectator.co.uk/coffeehouse/6691068/overall-a-win-for-gove.thtml
  
  So Gove, far from what Howard and Paul say, won the substantive and the decisions still stand. Gove had the authority to act as he did, so said the judge. There just needs to be a review of 6 cases, partly thanks idiotic 'equalities' legislation from Labour - something that needs repeal.
• howard mcsweeney1

  • Location: Dover
  • Registered: 12 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 62,352
  11 February 2011     15:5192316
  #7      
  nic try at spin there barry, he judge said that the governemnt acted unlawfully and there was an abuse of power.
  
  of course the cuts will go ahead and council tax money spent in good faith will be wasted.
• Guest 655

  • Registered: 13 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 10,247
  11 February 2011     17:4892329
  #8      
  Spin Howard?
  
  The judge said, to quote: """the final decision on any given school or project still rests with him [Gove]. He may save all, some, a few, or none. No one should gain false hope from this decision."""
  
  The spin is on the side of those who are trying to make it all out as a defeat for Gove.
• Guest 660

  • Registered: 14 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 3,205
  11 February 2011     19:0992334
  #9      
  Judge said abuse of power! Of course he won't change his mind,if that was a Labour minister Barry would be asking for his head by now!
  If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble!
• howard mcsweeney1

  • Location: Dover
  • Registered: 12 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 62,352
  11 February 2011     19:2992336
  #10      
  selective quoting barry, the two quotes i have posted here i heard on news 24 and are clearly detailed on the websites of the independent, telegraph and guardian.
  
  i hope this particular abuse of power is not the start of a series.