Making a difference to the people of Medway
Labour group threatens £30m investment in Medway’s schools
Press release posted on Wednesday, 17 June 2009
Medway Labour group’s attempt to derail the proposed changes to primary education could threaten up to £30 million of investment in Medway’s schools.
Labour councillors have, at every turn, opposed changes to primary schools in Medway, without suggesting any alternative solutions to address surplus places – an issue that their own Labour government demands that the council deals with under their Primary Strategy for Change.
Guidance issued to Medway Council under the Primary Capital Programme states that “strategies that fail to commit to addressing surplus capacity at local authority or individual school level will not be approved”, and that plans must “ensure that no school has more than 25% surplus places” and “reduce overall surplus places to less than 10% across the local authority area”.
Labour councillors in Medway have also tried to stop residents having their say by calling in the decision by Cabinet to go out to consultation – a decision which was taken to enable officers to go out and listen to all views about the proposals.
If the council followed the Labour group’s ‘do nothing’ plans, then Medway could lose out on up to £30 million of investment for primary schools. This could mean:
No new £4.8 million school in Walderslade, forcing the children to continue to be taught in temporary buildings some dating back to the 1908.
No new £6.5 million school at Barnsole.
Napier primary school would miss out on £3.1 million of investment and continue to be forced to share its school with the local secondary school.
No £1 million to improve the Delce schools or £1.1 million to refurbish Twydall’s schools.
No refurbishments or upgrades to primary schools across the area.
No 21st Century facilities for Medway’s children.
Deputy Leader Cllr Alan Jarrett said:
“The Labour group’s position on primary schools is completely untenable. They continue to oppose changes that their own Labour government requires us to make in Medway and their suggestions of scrapping the proposals without having a consultation would risk £30 million of investment in our children’s future. They have no alternatives and the government has said that doing nothing is not an option.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
- The DCSF has earmarked under the Primary Strategy for Change £11 million over the next three years, with £2 million each year after that, rising to £30 million.