PARENTS FOR LEGAL ACTION LIMITED
PRESS RELEASE 13 FEBRUARY 2006

13 FEB: PARENTS FOR LEGAL ACTION PRSS RELEASE ON ADJOURNMENT TO JUDICIAL REVIEW

The Judicial Review into the lawfulness of decisions and actions taken by Northumberland County Council in respect of its controversial plans to scrap the county’s middle schools, was adjourned today, following a further morning’s evidence (the case began last Friday). The adjournment is to allow time for the judge to review a further matter relating to the reliability of the council's financial information.

This point comes on top of two allegations by parents that have already been explored in court. The first is that that the council has failed to act on a crucial resolution, dating from 2004, to undertake an independent review of the financial and educational merits of the different options presented during consultation on the proposed changes. The second is that the consultation process itself has been fundamentally flawed, particularly in the way it has narrowed down debate solely onto two-tier options.

The additional point was raised by the parents in response to evidence presented to the court by the council. The council made an application for the parents' protective cost cap to be increased to reflect its additional work but this was refused by the judge.

David Hodkinson of Parents for Legal Action said "We were surprised when the council asked for another two weeks and additional costs to prepare answers to straightforward questions relating to its own evidence. This delay will have a knock-on effect on the timing of an outcome, the judge having decided to wait until all three grounds have been reviewed before issuing a judgement, which we now expect some time in March.

“We are particularly keen to get answers to our questions relating to the financial assumptions underpinning the council’s unpopular plans for school reorganisation in Cramlington, where important decisions on school closures were due to be made by councillors next Monday.”

Further details for those interested in supporting the legal action are available through the www.neag.info website.

End

Contacts:
David Hodkinson, 07703 218732
Judy Lloyd, 01434 608790 or 07929838726

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