All over the country, schools are at risk. Recently, it was decided that several schools in the interior will be closed. In Alver municipality in Vestland, the municipal council was today supposed to say yes or no to the municipal director’s proposal to close four schools. Different parties had different proposals that were less dramatic. In the round of voting on the various alternatives, the hall heard that it had been decided that the one school was saved from closure, with a barely possible majority. In Høgre – who wanted to keep Eikanger school – there was a reaction with smiles and “knuckle greetings”. But then the politician who tipped the majority said that he had misprinted during the vote. Around 100 shareholders in yellow vests turned up to watch. Several of the politicians thanked for their commitment and involvement in the process. Photo: Oddgeir Øystese / news Røysta’s mistake When Øyvind Bratshaug (politically independent) was going to vote, he ran out of time. The mayor called for his vote. One vote was missing. – Yes, I’m thinking about it, said Bratshaug. The mayor repeated: – Øyvind Bratshaug must give up his vote. And soon after came the result. – We have received 21 votes for and 20 votes against. And it has been adopted. Øyvind Bratshaug (politically independent) says he was wrong. He actually wanted the case adjourned. Photo: Henrik Rambjør Hauken After the meeting, Bratshaug gained momentum. – I ran up to the mayor and informed him that I had voted incorrectly. I sent in an e-mail and asked if we could vote again, says Bratshaug to news. – It went so fast on that particular case. I discovered it right afterwards. Already in the meeting I had said that it went quickly, says Bratshaug to news. It is unclear whether the case will be voted on again. – This is a situation we have not encountered before. We are now thoroughly checking the formalities surrounding this, says mayor Sara Sekkingstad (Sp). Mayor Sara Sekkingstad and the group leaders of the various parties will now assess whether there will be a new vote. Photo: Leif Rune Løland / news Law professor: – All decisions can be changed But to what extent can a municipal council vote again if someone has voted incorrectly? – All decisions can be changed, says professor emeritus at the University of Bergen, Jan Fridthjof Bernt. The lawyer is one of the country’s foremost experts on municipal law. In 1992, he led the public selection which led to a major renewal of this law. – The Local Government Act says nothing about re-voting. After voting, the case is considered complete. But a local authority can ask to have the matter brought up for a new vote. He explains that if a majority in the municipal council wants it, there can be a new vote. – The municipal board can say yes or no to a new vote. It can be done in the same meeting, or in a later meeting. – So a politician who misprints, or realizes that he has tilted the majority in an undesirable direction, has the right to regret? – An individual representative does not have the right of withdrawal, but the municipal council has the right of withdrawal, says Bernt. – So then the majority can make a strategic choice about a new vote or not? – The majority in the municipal council decides what it will vote on, he states. Bernt says there is no basis for demanding legal control if the municipal council opens for a change of vote. Law professor Jan Fridthjof Bernt says a municipal council always has the “right of cancellation” and can take a new vote, for example if a politician says they voted incorrectly. Photo: Åge Algerøy Plans for closure In Alver municipality, the children’s schools and kindergartens faced a turn when the director of the municipality had proposed to save NOK 52 million in the early childhood sector, among other things by: Moving Myking school to Lindås children’s school. Move Austebygd school to Hordabø school. Move Kløvheim school and Eikanger school to Leiknes school. Move Austebygd kindergarten to Bø kindergarten. Co-locate Prestmarka kindergarten in the Solhall building. A number of upgrades to the kindergartens and schools were also proposed, which were to be retained. The Center Party, which has the mayor, voted in line with its election promise against the school closures. In the submission, the Labor Party, SV, Høgre, KrF, Frp and Venstre wanted to move Kløvheim school to Eikanger school, and not the two schools to Leiknes school. This was therefore adopted, and it is still uncertain whether there will be a second vote. When Øyvind Bratshaug, midway through the meeting, proposed postponing the entire decision, it led to a break in the meeting. Eikanger will probably stay, while Austebygd, Myking and Kløvheim will be closed down. Torgeir Andvik (Sp) believes there will be funds to support an adjournment of the case. He believes the politicians rule against breach of trust and breach of promise in relation to what they had promised Alver municipality should be. – Isn’t it worth the chance to take care of some nurseries and schools, to see if this can be a good investment, instead of shutting down everything, says Andvik. He believes that money would come from the government. Torgeir Andvik (Sp) says he is angry and sad at the same time. – Saying something here probably has no effect on the result, says Andvik. Photo: Oddgeir Øystese / news – The Center Party has been in contact with the Minister of Local Government, and the Minister of Local Government’s office urges not to make hasty decisions, says Torgeir Andvik (Sp). – They announce that there will be increased funds for the municipalities, says Andvik. The Ministry of Municipal Affairs confirms in an e-mail that Andvik made contact, and that they had a conversation about, among other things, the municipal economy. – I said then, as it was already communicated on 7 October, that the municipal sector will receive more money in the current year. These funds will come at the latest in connection with the rebalancing of the state budget for 2024. – I think the municipalities should keep that in mind when they discuss the economy, writes State Secretary Ole Gustav Narud. Published 24.10.2024, at 20.58 Updated 24.10.2024, at 21.01
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Politicians voted wrong when Alver municipality had to decide the future of the schools – save Eikanger school – news Vestland
