This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Four more councils take up PPP investment
01/06/2004
The next stage of Scotland's biggest ever school
buildings programme was unveiled today, bringing the total
investment to over £2.2 billion.
Four councils - Falkirk, Moray, Scottish Borders and
West Dunbartonshire - are joining the 24 which are already
part of the Public Private Partnerships (PPP) school
building programme.
During a visit to Vale of Leven Academy in West
Dunbartonshire, Education Minister Peter Peacock said:
"Throughout Scotland, many communities are seeing the
real benefits of our school buildings programme. Gone are
the crumbling classrooms and out-of-date equipment.
Instead, our pupils and teachers have schools fit for the
21st century, equipped to meet modern needs and
challenges.
"That's what this investment is about - building for the
future to deliver the very best for our young people and
the generations who will follow them. All children deserve
the best possible start in life and, to achieve that, we
must ensure that our school environment does not put
barriers in their paths.
"This investment - the biggest school buildings
programme in Scotland's history - will help us meet our
target to rebuild or refurbish 300 schools by 2009. As
Education Minister, I relish the opportunity to visit
schools and see the positive difference that the right
environment, coupled with enthusiastic, well-motivated
teachers, can make to a child's life.
"Today's further investment means that even more
children, in more parts of Scotland, are set to reap these
rewards."
Mr Peacock also announced that a further £1.5 million
will be allocated to councils to help them to continue
developing their school estate management plans which were
drawn up last year.
In addition, guidance is published today to help
councils manage the PPP process. This includes materials to
improve project evaluation, learn from previous experience
and consult with people who use the schools.
The indicative level of PPP investment being supported
by the Executive is:
Falkirk - £70 million
Moray - £50 million
Scottish Borders - £50 million
West Dunbartonshire - £100 million
Local authorities were invited, in September 2001, to
bid for a share of Executive revenue funding to support
school building capital projects under PPP. They were
invited to bid in either December 2001 or September 2002
(later extended to December 2002).
Fifteen local authorities submitted bids in December
2001 (tranche one) and all were accepted. The indicative
level of PPP investment supported by the Executive totalled
almost £1.2 billion and was announced in June 2002.
Fourteen local authorities entered bids in December 2002
(tranche two) and nine were accepted. The indicative level
of PPP investment supported by the Executive totalled
almost £750 million and was announced in March 2003.
Discussions continued with the five other authorities
and, in October 2003, West Dunbartonshire was allowed to
belatedly bid to join the PPP programme.
A decision is expected on the bid from Comhairle nan
Eilean Siar shortly and East Lothian Council has confirmed
that it does not with to proceed with a PPP bid under this
programme.
The school estate strategy, published in February 2003,
required councils to submit school estate management plans
by January 2004, and annually thereafter.