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17/08/2012
Michael Gove Ignored His Own Panels Advice On Selling Playing Fields
Education minister Michael Gove has ignored expert advice from an independent panel, that he established, over the sale of school playing fields, the Guardian has reported.
In the past 15 months the School Playing Fields Advisory Panel has opposed the sell-off of such facilities five times, but sales were still pushed through.
Ministers must give approval of any sales of playing fields, and despite a promise in the coalition agreement to protect them, figures show that disposals continue to rise.
The number of fields approved for sale by ministers since 2010 is also much higher than the government originally disclosed, according to figures seen by the Daily Telegraph.
It said the panel received 35 applications between May and July this year, 30 of which were approved by ministers.
Two were rejected, one was withdrawn and two remain outstanding.
It is understood the decisions were mostly taken by education minister Lord Hill on behalf of Gove.
The government however has previously said that it had approved the disposal of just 21 playing fileds since 2010.
The panel is legally bound to make a recommendation on each sell-off and the documents show Gove ignored five recommendations not to sell between February last year and this July – more than in the previous nine years.
Labour's shadow education secretary, Stephen Twigg, accused the government of running a secret scheme to sell off playing fields. "The fact that Michael Gove has ignored the advice of independent experts and ploughed ahead with selling off school playing fields shows he is shamefully out of touch," Twigg said. "He also appears to have failed to disclose at least another 10 school playing field sell-offs when responding to a Freedom of Information request. This is misleading and incompetent at the very least.
"[He] must now come clean and explain what appears to be a secret programme to sell off school playing fields."
(H)
In the past 15 months the School Playing Fields Advisory Panel has opposed the sell-off of such facilities five times, but sales were still pushed through.
Ministers must give approval of any sales of playing fields, and despite a promise in the coalition agreement to protect them, figures show that disposals continue to rise.
The number of fields approved for sale by ministers since 2010 is also much higher than the government originally disclosed, according to figures seen by the Daily Telegraph.
It said the panel received 35 applications between May and July this year, 30 of which were approved by ministers.
Two were rejected, one was withdrawn and two remain outstanding.
It is understood the decisions were mostly taken by education minister Lord Hill on behalf of Gove.
The government however has previously said that it had approved the disposal of just 21 playing fileds since 2010.
The panel is legally bound to make a recommendation on each sell-off and the documents show Gove ignored five recommendations not to sell between February last year and this July – more than in the previous nine years.
Labour's shadow education secretary, Stephen Twigg, accused the government of running a secret scheme to sell off playing fields. "The fact that Michael Gove has ignored the advice of independent experts and ploughed ahead with selling off school playing fields shows he is shamefully out of touch," Twigg said. "He also appears to have failed to disclose at least another 10 school playing field sell-offs when responding to a Freedom of Information request. This is misleading and incompetent at the very least.
"[He] must now come clean and explain what appears to be a secret programme to sell off school playing fields."
(H)
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27 August 2004
School playing fields promised 'toughest-ever protection'
New guidelines governing the sale of playing fields by local authorities will provide "the toughest-ever protection" for leisure areas, the government has said.
School playing fields promised 'toughest-ever protection'
New guidelines governing the sale of playing fields by local authorities will provide "the toughest-ever protection" for leisure areas, the government has said.
23 June 2003
NPFA says playing fields ‘attacked from all sides’
The National Playing Fields Association (NPFA) has claimed today that playing fields are being built on at an unprecedented rate, and alleged that the government and its agencies are doing little to reverse the trend.
NPFA says playing fields ‘attacked from all sides’
The National Playing Fields Association (NPFA) has claimed today that playing fields are being built on at an unprecedented rate, and alleged that the government and its agencies are doing little to reverse the trend.
28 May 2004
New body to seek improvements in school sports facilities
A new group chaired by the Sports Minister is to bring together government and grassroots campaigners seeking new and improved sports facilities. The move was announced following the latest meeting of the playing fields monitoring group, the body set up in 2000 to examine latest information on their use and any proposals to re-develop facilities.
New body to seek improvements in school sports facilities
A new group chaired by the Sports Minister is to bring together government and grassroots campaigners seeking new and improved sports facilities. The move was announced following the latest meeting of the playing fields monitoring group, the body set up in 2000 to examine latest information on their use and any proposals to re-develop facilities.
18 May 2010
CCTV Image To Aid Murder Probe
Detectives investigating the murder of 37-year-old Errol McKenzie in Leyton are releasing CCTV footage of him taken shortly before his death, (pictured). A reward of up £20,000 is now available to anyone able to provide information to the investigating team which would lead to the arrest and prosecution of the individual/s responsible.
CCTV Image To Aid Murder Probe
Detectives investigating the murder of 37-year-old Errol McKenzie in Leyton are releasing CCTV footage of him taken shortly before his death, (pictured). A reward of up £20,000 is now available to anyone able to provide information to the investigating team which would lead to the arrest and prosecution of the individual/s responsible.
23 July 2009
Girlfriend Appeals Over Playing Field Shooting
The pregnant girlfriend of the man shot dead on playing fields in Bromley a week ago has made an impassioned plea for help to trace the masked killer.
Girlfriend Appeals Over Playing Field Shooting
The pregnant girlfriend of the man shot dead on playing fields in Bromley a week ago has made an impassioned plea for help to trace the masked killer.
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