SCHOOL BUILDINGS AT RISK

12.00.00am GMT Mon 23rd Feb 2009

£33 million of work needs to be done

At the meeting of the County Council on Thursday 19th February Martin Vye, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Children, Family and Education, proposed a substantial increase in spending in maintenance to school buildings.

Martin said: "The priority of this county council is to ensure that there are schools, for all our children and young people, maintained in a fit state. The most recent survey of school buildings shows that £33 million of work needs to be done urgently to deal with those in the worst state. This Conservative administration allocated £11 million for next year in its budget proposals - one third of what is needed."

Martin proposed an extra £1.7million to be put into the budget immediately, to be paid for by scrapping the funding of 'Kent TV'. His proposal was voted down by the Conservative majority.

Martin stated: "Conservatives are not tackling the disastrous backlog of repairs and maintenance in our schools built up under their administration. KCC are only funding one quarter of the repairs and replacements they were supposed to be responsible for". He continued "I know from talking to headteachers that any bill under £6000 will not be paid by KCC, even if they are responsible. That leaves the school to find this money - in other words to take it away from children's education."

Note:

*Repairs and maintenance are split between schools and the county council. The county council has 'landlord responsibilities'.

*The business Plan for the Children's Families and Education Directorate shows that the cost of putting right the buildings in category D (worst condition) and in urgency category 1, is £33.4 million.

*My proposal would not add any extra to the council tax, as it would be funded from what would not be spent on Kent TV.