Beccles Free School under spotlight again

This follows the Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting held on Wednesday 27 June at which an invitation to Cllr Bee and Mr Aldous was extended. Waveney District Council has no direct responsibility for education but the Council and the Overview & Scrutiny Committee can concern itself with matters which affect the overall wellbeing of the area and, following a motion put to Full Council in February 2012, an Extraordinary Meeting of the committee was convened to discuss this issue.

Cllr Tod Sullivan, Chair of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee said: "I am very grateful to Mr Aldous and Cllr Bee for joining us to make their contribution to this important discussion. Although we cannot make any decisions which will affect the development of the school, we do have a responsibility as community leaders to examine issues which affect the people we represent.

"Following the consideration of the submissions made by Mr Aldous and Cllr Bee, the Committee will then need to determine what further action we wish to take and explore any options open to us to ensure that the very best interests of our communities are served." 

The Seckford Foundation will oversee the establishment of the Beccles Free School, which has now received approval from the Secretary of State for Education. Graham Watson, a Director of the foundation, attended to answer questions from the all-party committee in June.

Members of the public are welcome to attend this latest meeting as observers, however no provision is being made for questions from the public gallery during this meeting.