At a meeting between Government officials and council officers, Department for Education representatives presented a list of sites they were considering as locations for free schools (The Argus, June 28).

Council officers gave feedback on the Government’s list including, in the case of the Bhasvic field, telling the Government it was not a good idea to take playing fields from existing schools.

Officers also explained that planning permission would be difficult to secure.

Despite recognising the “significant challenges” associated with the site, civil servants stated they needed to explore this option further, given the need for places in the area, Kings School’s target catchment area in Hove and the limited availability of alternative sites.

The Government’s first draft public statement about their Bhasvic field proposal contained inaccuracies about the council’s role in the process, which we asked them to correct.

The council certainly didn’t agree with the Bhasvic field proposal itself and it’s disingenuous to suggest we did.

This whole debacle shows up yet another major flaw with the Government’s chaotic free schools programme. One of the toughest challenges in providing a new secondary school for our city is a lack of suitable sites, yet the Government is happy to approve new free schools without a clue about where they could go.

It’s shameful that we have ministers wasting time trying to shift blame for their own rushed, ill-considered proposals for a green space which is already in use.

The Government should instead give funding and powers to councils, who are best placed to provide school places.

Jason Kitcat, leader of Brighton and Hove City Council