An exchange at last week’s Hounslow Council Budget meeting revealed the Lead Member for Education in Hounslow, Councillor Tom Bruce, lacks confidence in his Standing Committee for Free Schools. The initiative which was approved by Councillor Bruce in a Cabinet Meeting on 5th November last year had Labour Councillor Ed Mayne recognising it was “the only way the authority was able to gain the required number of school places”.
However, in response to an attack made by Shadow Education Spokesman Councillor Robert Oulds who said Labour should be using Free Schools to fill in the gap in school places, Councillor Tom Bruce replied, “What ones? Where?” This follows the Labour Candidate for Brentford and Isleworth Ruth Cadbury’s opposition to Free Schools and pledge to scrap the idea. Commenting afterwards Councillor Robert Oulds said,
“This lacklustre response shoes that Councillor Bruce has no faith whatsoever in Free Schools and his own Standing Committee which he approved last year at a Cabinet meeting. Free Schools will help ease the shortage of school places but Councillor Bruce is content to do nothing but blame Central Government”.
Councillor Oulds confirmed that if the Conservatives win the May Council Election the new administration will take further and faster action in promoting and establishing Free Schools,
“If you vote Conservative on the 22nd May we promise to give more powers to Parents to set up their own schools. This “do nothing” Labour Council has had nearly four years to embrace the idea of Free Schools but just does not trust local people and communities”.