SOME County Councillors will not be able cast their vote in tomorrow’s (Thursday) extraordinary meeting about the future of secondary education in Pembrokeshire.

They will be asked to vote to send a recommendation with regard to how secondary education is provided in Haverfordwest, Fishguard and St Davids out to public consultation.

Under the preferred option Tasker Milward and Sir Thomas Picton will be replaced by a larger school on the site of the current Sir Thomas Picton, and Ysgol Dewi Sant and Ysgol Bro Gwaun will make way for a new school built on the site of the current Ysgol Bro Gwaun.

Following a number of queries, the authority’s monitoring officer, Laurence Harding, has sent out an email to members regarding who can and cannot vote at the meeting.

He said: “The decision will affect those members who are governors at the schools mentioned; those members who have close personal acquaintances acting as governors to the schools mentioned and members or close personal acquaintances who are employed by the schools mentioned.”

According to the Code of Conduct, members who have been appointed by the County Council as governors to the schools mentioned will need to declare a personal interest, but will be able to participate in the debate and vote.

Those members who are governors not appointed by the County Council will need to declare a prejudicial interest and not take part in the decision-making process. The same applies to members who have close personal acquaintances who are governors, and members who have close personal acquaintances employed at any of the schools.

If any member has children or other family members attending the schools, they would not be prevented from participating in the decision. However, if they have joined a pressure group to maintain the present status of a school, they have been advised to declare a prejudicial interest and not take part.

Among the members not able to vote is Haverfordwest County Councillor Tom Tudor, as he is a parent governor at Sir Thomas Picton.

Cllr Tudor said: “I am extremely concerned with the St Davids issue as the school is part of the community. The city has already lost its pool.

“I am also concerned about sixth form provision and the amalgamation of the two secondary schools in Haverfordwest. Bigger doesn’t necessarily mean better.

"It’s a consultation at the end of the day. Pembrokeshire County Council need to take on board the views expressed by the people and respond accordingly."

Preseli Pembrokeshire AM Paul Davies is calling for Thursday’s meeting discussing proposals for an education shake up in the north of the county to be called off.

Mr Davies is questioning the validity of the meeting of Extraordinary Council following concerns raised that Pembrokeshire County council may not have complied with the new School Organisation Code set out under the School Standards and Organisation (Wales) Act 2013.

He has written to council leader Cllr Jamie Adams to express his view that the meeting may be “invalid”.

Mr Davies said: “I want to see an education service in Pembrokeshire that’s fit for purpose and delivers real outcomes for pupils across the county. Any shake up of the current service provision must follow the correct procedures and engage with local people and their elected representatives “I have asked for evidence that the Council have complied with the new School Organisation Code and that each of the proposals have met the criteria. In light of these circumstances, I believe it’s only appropriate that the meeting is called off until robust evidence is provided to demonstrate that the council has complied with the Code.”