The decision by the Overview and Scrutiny Chair, Cllr Gideon Bull, to reconsider recommendations over the use of wireless internet access in schools has been welcomed by Lib Dem councillors. The Lib Dems made the recommendations at the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting on 2nd July 2007.

Lib Dem councillors suggested that wireless internet connections should be turned off in schools until consultation with parents could be carried out. However, this was not included in the formal recommendations taken forward by the Committee. Committee Chair Cllr Bull (Labour) has now agreed to ask the Labour Cabinet to recommend a time limit for a consultation to take place to ask parents and staff to decide whether to continue with Wi-fi in schools and whether it could be viable for the Council to ask schools to turn off Wi-fi connections until the consultation has been completed.Lib Dems say this is a step in the right direction.

Cllr Martin Newton, Lead member on Overview and Scrutiny, comments:

“I am glad that Cllr Bull and I have come to an amicable agreement as this is how joint scrutiny should work. In the end it comes down to allowing parents and staff a say in the issue. The Overview and Scrutiny Committee was very clear in what it wanted.”

Cllr Dave Winskill, Overview and Scrutiny Member, adds:

“Overview and Scrutiny always tries to work on a non party political basis and I hope councillors working together will be able to come up with a solution that will serve the needs of our most precious asset – children being educated in the borough.”