COUNCILLORS will not be told the contents of the draft report by school inspectors Estyn into  Powys’ Schools Service until after the Brecon and Radnorshire by-election.

Until August 2, the contents of the draft report will be known to only a select few including Powys County Council’s (PCC) chief executive, Dr Caroline Turner and head of school service, Dr Alec Clark.

The schools inspectorate was in the department earlier this summer.

With many schools in financial crisis and a service and a staff creaking at the seams with the amount of school reorganisation work needed to be planned, a poor report could put Cllr Myfanwy Alexander (Independent – Dyffryn Banwy)  job as education portfolio holder in peril.

At the learning and skills scrutiny committee on Friday, July 19, Cllr Bryn Davies (Plaid Cymru, Llanwddyn) asked: “Is there any feedback from the Estyn inspection coming through and when is the report due?”

Committee chairman, Cllr Peter Roberts (Liberal Democrat – Llandrindod South) answered: “We are not getting any feedback until after the by-election.

“Myself the leader (Cllr Rosemarie Harris – Independent, Llangynidr) and the portfolio holder (Cllr Myfanwy Alexander) have a meeting in the afternoon of August 2 ( Friday) with the Estyn inspectors to give us the report that they gave officers.”

Cllr Davies, responded: “So officers have received it?

Cllr Roberts added: “They will not be giving any statement in the near future on that.”

Schools service senior challenge advisor, Eurig Towns, said: “Just three officers have been given feedback, the chief exec, head of schools and the nominee.”

“All other officers are not aware and still unaware as we are under purdah as well.”

Head of schools, Dr Alec Clark is leaving Powys to take a post as a director of education in England and the nominee is thought to be his successor.

A spokeswoman for Estyn said: “We don’t have statutory publication dates for local authority inspection reports.

“However we are hoping to publish the Powys inspection report on September 10.”

Normal business at PCC will resume once the polls in the Brecon and Radnorshire by-election have closed after 10pm on Thursday, August 1.