'Schools could lose £57m investment' - councillors (From The Northern Echo)

'Schools could lose £57m investment' - councillors

6:34pm Friday 19th March 2010 in

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Darlington could miss out on a £57m investment in three schools if the Conservatives win the General Election, councillors have warned.

Massive rebuilding programmes at Branksome, Hurworth and Longfield could be under threat after a Tory spokesman admitted that, under Conservative rule, schemes might not go ahead if they had not reached "financial closure" before polling day.

At a full council meeting on Thursday night, Darlington's Conservative group came under attack from both Liberal Democrat and Labour councillors.

Speaking at the meeting, Coun Mike Barker, Liberal Democrat, said: "We need this money to improve our schools, but it is in serious jeopardy if the Conservatives were to win the General Election."

The money has been earmarked under the Government's building schools for the future scheme. If the contracts are signed, work is expected to start in 2011 and be completed by 2012.

But if the paperwork is not agreed before polling day, Tory schools spokesman Nick Gibb said projects might not go ahead under a Conservative government.

In an interview with the Times Education Supplement, he said: "If a scheme has got to financial closure, that's it, it's going to happen."

But when asked to give a similar commitment to schemes in the earlier stages of the process, he said: "Then it won't be guaranteed."

Darlington Association of Governors has written to the National Governors Association, requesting them to contact the Conservatives to get them to rethink the proposals, and to allow the projects to continue.

Alan Macnab, secretary of the group, said that four of the Borough's seven secondary schools had already benefited from the scheme.

"If this report is true it is very unfair for the three schools that will be affected," he added.

Speaking at the council meeting, Coun Charles Johnson, deputy leader of Darlington Conservative Group, said: "I would like to remind the council that none of the three political parties are offering guarantees, not even yours Councillor Barker."

Coun Cyndi Hughes, Labour, cabinet member for children's services, said council officers have been working to "tighten up the deal" at meetings in London. She added: "We don't know when the General Election is going to be, so it is difficult to let you know if the contract will be signed before that date."