Appendix 5C: Consultation responses submitted by Town and Parish Councils, Annual Assemblies and Trade Unions during the consultation period

	Do you have any comments about the amalgamation proposal?	Do you support the proposals?	Do you have any suggestions for improvement?	Date received
1	I write on the instructions of the Annual Assembly of the electors of the parish of Whitby, which met last week (22 March) in accordance with Sections 14-22 of Schedule 12 of the Local Government Act 1972, to officially set out the following resolutions of the meeting for your consideration.  Please note that this was NOT a meeting of the town council. 1.         This meeting write to North Yorkshire (County) Councillor Annabel WILKINSON (Executive Member for Education, Learning & Skills) and Mr Stuart CARLTON (Corporate Director: Children & Young People Services), informing them that Whitby Town Council fully supports Whitby parents/carers in their strenuous opposition to the proposed Amalgamation of Whitby’s secondary schools - this formal opposition to be included within the present Consultation process. [NB, the Town Council’s position – as noted – had been resolved at its meeting on 7 March 2023] 2.         We must have an independent enquiry on education in Whitby. 3.         This meeting requests North Yorkshire (County) Council to retain the #95 service to what it is pre-April 2023 to retain this essential lifeline for many elderly people, and furthermore to undertake an urgent review into providing a bus service to the parts of Whitby without any service at all. 4.         This meeting requests North Yorkshire (County) Council implement immediately [an SPD planning policy stating] “Where the number of second homes and holiday lets in any Parish is 20% or over at the last census (2021), the focus shall be on providing for local housing needs through the provision of affordable housing and housing to support local employment opportunities and key services in Parishes affected.” 5.         This meeting supports the Town Mayor in writing to North Yorkshire (County) Council to propose a governance review of the Town Council to have between 12 and 15 councillors, to bring the council in line with other similar sized towns. The next (annual) assembly in the parish will be in 2024.  In the interim, the town council would be happy to receive and record any response you feel appropriate to these resolutions of the electors’ meeting.	No		28/03/23
2	I am writing to express Whitby Town Council’s objection to the proposals to amalgamate Caedmon College Whitby and Eskdale School, resulting in the technical closure of Eskdale School and the Eskdale site. It is the council’s understanding that the consultation process has been inadequate and the views of parents and the community have not been properly considered nor listened to.  Whitby Town Council strongly believes that any decision regarding the future of our local schools should be made with the input of all stakeholders, including parents, teachers, and local residents. Unfortunately, it appears that the consultation process has not been sufficiently robust or inclusive.  There has been very little information provided to parents about the proposed amalgamation, and many have expressed the view that they have not had the opportunity to fully understand the implications of this decision. Furthermore, it seems that the concerns and objections have been largely ignored by those in charge of the consultation process. This is evidenced by the failure of the governing body to accept an invitation to address the town council and the lack of engagement experienced at the two public sessions conducted at Whitby Pavilion on 8 March 2023 – which was the only public consultation event undertaken by the LEA or the Whitby Secondary Partnership.  The town council is aware of legitimate concerns articulated by parents and others over the process that has been followed by the governing body in making its initial request to the local education authority to undertake this amalgamation.  The town council believes that a fuller explanation is required of the process followed, whether decisions by the governing body in this regard are properly constituted, whether full and meaningful figures have been disclosed to justify the decision to close the Eskdale site over any other within the Federation based on pupil numbers, utilisation of existing capacity, the extent of remedial works	No	There should have been greater efforts to engage with the community and to respond to legitimate questions arising from the consultation.   Governing Body of the Schools’ Federation has ignored repeated requests to attend a meeting of the town council, which is the proper way in which the town council should be engaged as a core consultee in this process.  Until such time as the Governing Body is prepared to meet with the town council, Whitby Town Council will not recognise the legitimacy of this process and will maintain that position publicly.	28/03/23
3	The Annual Town Meeting of the elcectors of the parish of Whitby resolved at its meeting on 22 March 2023, that: "This meeting write to North Yorkshire (County) Councillor Annabel WILKINSON (Executive Member for Education, Learning & Skills) and Mr Stuart CARLTON (Corporate Director: Children & Young People Services), informing them that Whitby Town Council fully supports Whitby parents/carers in their strenuous opposition to the proposed Amalgamation of Whitby’s secondary schools - this formal opposition to be included within the present Consultation process."	No		28/03/23
4	I write on behalf of the Town Mayor and Council of Whitby to formally request the extension of the consultation period of the proposal to Amalgamate Caedmon College Whitby and Eskdale School, on the grounds that the Governing Body of the Schools’ Federation has ignored repeated requests to attend a meeting of the town council, which is the proper way in which the town council should be engaged as a core consultee in this process. Until such time as the Governing Body is prepared to meet with the town council, Whitby Town Council will not recognise the legitimacy of this process and will maintain that position publicly.	No		28/03/23
5	I am writing from the UNISON North Yorkshire Local Government branch to submit some feedback into the public consultation on behalf of our members. We are concerned regarding the proposal to close the Eskdale site and amalgamate the two schools for the following reasons: • The decision to close Eskdale school will reduce the amount of choice available to young people and their families in the area. Once the school is closed it will be very difficult to reverse this decision should this be to the detriment of local people. • There is a likelihood that more houses will be built in the area to meet local demand, we are aware that this cannot be factored into pupil numbers until new homes have gone through the relevant planning permission. The decision to close the Eskdale site based on falling pupil numbers may be premature. • We are very concerned regarding potential job losses that could impact on our members; this could potentially cause a loss of skilled staff in a rural area which is challenging to recruit to.  • The decision to close the school must not be motivated by the academisation process. We are aware that the school’s financial position is a current barrier to joining a multi academy trust. We object to a school being closed to potentially facilitate academisation. • The decision making process should reflect the needs and wishes of the local community and should not be influenced by other parties who may have vested interests.	No		31/03/23

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