We will do our best for children with additional needs 'whatever the different messages that are being spread'

The best interests of children with additional learning needs in Llanelli is extremely important irrespective of "the different messages that are being spread", Carmarthenshire's cabinet member of education said. Cllr Glynog Davies was quizzed at a meeting of full council about Ysgol Heol Goffa, Llanelli, which is the subject of an independent review following a controversial decision earlier this year not to proceed with a replacement school because of soaring costs.

Labour's opposition leader Cllr Deryk Cundy asked the Plaid cabinet member if he'd taken into account that, should the review end up recommending a new special school, the council had ring-fenced its financial contribution to the previously planned school. The implied concern was that this contribution might get re-allocated to other school projects rather than a potential new Ysgol Heol Goffa.

The question said future provision for children at the over-subscribed school was still under review - a point Cllr Davies picked up on. "In a way you've answered your own question," he said. "I am not ready to predict the result of the review. That would be a foolish thing to do." He added: "I will respond at the appropriate time. I can assure you that all factors will be considered. I want to underline and emphasise that providing the best education for children with additional learning needs (ALN) is extremely important for me personally and to the cabinet as a whole. We are committed to doing our best for our children, whatever the different messages that are being spread." The review will set out costed options for future ALN provision in the Llanelli area, and it could be concluded by the end of 2024.

Cllr Cundy also asked if £1.27 million spent by the council on design work and feasibility studies for the previously planned replacement Ysgol Heol Goffa would be lost if the review did not recommend a new school. Cllr Davies said he was sure this design and feasibility work would bring many benefits, but didn't say if the £1.27 million would be lost or not. He said the council had asked the Welsh Government to cover the increased costs of the previously planned school - earmarked at the former Draka copperworks site - but that it hadn't been in a position to.

Cllr Cundy also said the council had apparently authorised £500,000 of repairs to Ysgol Heol Goffa over the summer but that the roof still leaked, and that no "desperately-needed" extra places at the school had been provided. "Do you think that this was really value for money?" he asked. Cllr Davies said the council had spent "wisely and carefully" and that additional work had been identified after the repairs had got under way. This extra work, he said, would be done as soon as possible.

Campaigners for a new Ysgol Heal Goffa presented a petition signed by more than 5,300 people to the council earlier this year. Speaking early last month, Rebecca Davies, vice-chairwoman of Save Ysgol Heol Goffa action committee, said the ongoing review had given them some cause for optimism. "Everyone's quite hopeful with this independent review," she said.