A POLITICAL row has flared at Warrington over claims that the Labour government’s Building Schools for the Future programme was underfunded.
Warrington North Labour MP Helen Jones has challenged the leadership of the borough council to produce evidence that the programme was underfunded.
She says council leader Ian Marks (Lib Dem) and his deputy, Keith Bland (Cons) said in a letter to council officers: “Money was never available for such a massive scheme.”
Ms Jones said: “Not only is this statement complete rubbish but only a few weeks ago they were trumpeting plans to re-build Green Lane special school. They surely wouldn’t have done so if they believed that money was not available.
“Councillors Marks and Bland know that if the scheme had been underfunded, the chief accounting officer at the Department for Children, Schools and Families, would have requested a letter of direction, signed by a minister, before going ahead.
“No such letter exists and the chief accounting officer, the department’s permanent secretary, has confirmed that he did not request one.
“The leader and deputy leader are becoming apologists for a government that is already inflicting huge cuts on Warrington with many more to come.”
Coun Marks said: “The Coalition government inherited a massive financial problem from Ms Jones’s Labour government. There is widespread acceptance amongst the public that action has to be taken quickly to rebalance our economy.
“Sadly this means painful savings just have to be made. The country could not go with huge spending schemes we could not afford. After all, one Labour minister left a note for his successor saying no money was available.
“The Building Schools for the Future scheme was far too bureaucratic and has cost council tax payers in Warrington £1.8m in setup costs.
“Ms Jones’s government required us to employ six different kinds of consultants. This was crazy and had to be stopped.
“But our schools do need rebuilding and modernising and the council is working on a proposal to government for investment in our priority schools that will offer far better value for money. New buildings and equipment are not everything but they certainly help with the vital task of educating our young people which we are totally committed to.”
Pictured: Helen Jones and Ian Marks
Row over school building funding
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Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
