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Anglesey council's leader has described calls for resignations in the wake of a decision to scrap a series of planned primary school closures as "crude political point-scoring."

The council's executive voted earlier this week to rescind previous decisions to shut primary schools in the Llangefni and Beaumaris areas after threats of legal action were received.

This came after the chief executive apologised to both members and ratepayers, admitting officers had failed to meet Welsh Government guidelines in recommending the schools' closure due to portions of the consultation process falling foul of the Schools Organisation Code.

Despite Dr Gwynne Jones’ apology, the leader of the opposition has led calls for changes within the decision-making executive.

Cllr Bryan Owen said: “I think they (the executive) are at fault for allowing the chief executive to take all the blame.

“To be frank, the officers are there to advise members but, as councillors, our role is to balance these recommendations with what we think is best.

"In my view, the executive are as much to blame and I feel they rushed the process before the new Schools Organisation Code was introduced last November, but that's spectacularly backfired now.

“I wouldn’t like to think how much time and money has been wasted during the course of these consultations.

"The education portfolio holder has a background in the legal field - surely he should have picked up on this at some point.

"You have to wonder who’s running the council. In my view, the right thing for Cllr Meirion Jones to do would be to resign.”

But the council leader has shot back, noting she held Cllr Jones in the "highest regard".

Cllr Llinos Medi said: "Whilst it is extremely regrettable that some errors were made by officers in complying with the School Organisation Code, to call for resignations in this manner is simply a crude attempt at political point scoring.

(Image: Arwyn Roberts)

“I have the highest regard for Cllr Jones and under his strategic leadership we have school standards on Anglesey continuing to improve as noted by Estyn and for the first time in many years not one school is in the red category."

December saw councillors rubber-stamp the closure of Ysgol Gymuned Bodffordd to merge it with Llangefni’s Ysgol Corn Hir in a brand new facility.

This followed decisions in July to shut Ysgol Gynradd Beaumaris , while refurbishing Ysgol Llandegfan and Ysgol Llangoed, as well as the closure of Ysgol Talwrn , with the pupils set to be moved 1.8 miles away to an extended Ysgol y Graig in Llangefni.

But alarm bells started to ring in March when the education minister revealed she was investigating a complaint the council did not follow proper procedure in deciding to shut Ysgol Gymuned Bodffordd

The subsequent officers’ report, presented on Monday, noted that an internal review had been carried out following “a number of comments and concerns", with officers of the opinion that portions of the consultation process fell foul of the Welsh Government’s previous Schools Organisation Code.

A solicitor appointed by campaigners in Beaumaris had also issued a formal legal letter of claim, setting out their challenge.

Michael Imperato, a specialist in educational law, cited “procedural irregularities” which were alleged to have taken place during the council’s consultation and closure process.

(Image: TAKEN BY REPORTER, TRINITY MIRROR COPYRIGHT)

In the wake of the decision, Cllr Carwyn Jones, speaking on Monday, urged councillors to “take stock and work together” while calling for everyone to start afresh on a new slate.

It's expected that officers will look again at school reorganisation in these areas over the coming months, with fresh consultations set to take place in due course.