Clowne and Creswell: Schools to benefit from £16 million cash injection

The cash from Derbyshire County Council will help improve and modernise school buildings across the county.

As part of the plans, Creswell Junior School is to receive £250,000 to replace heating and pipes and a further £600,000 for a replacement cooking kitchen.

Clowne Infant School will also benefit from basic need works including £375,000 for a single classroom extension and Clowne Junior School will get £350,000 for a double classroom extension.

Coun Kevin Gillott, Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: “There is a huge backlog of school repairs that increase year on year.”

“We are making the most of the money we do get so we give Derbyshire children the best education and start in life but we are facing unprecedented Government budget cuts.”

“We have given highest priority to buildings in the worst condition or where improvements are needed for health and safety reasons.”

“However, there is no hiding my disappointment at the level of funding provided to the council by the Coalition Government.”

Outlines for the development include £12.336 million for capital maintenance projects, with £6.956 million of that being set aside for priority condition-related work such as re-wiring, re-roofing or heating replacements.

An additional £4.501 million for basic need schemes will be put in for 2014/2015 to provide additional school places.

A pot of £500,000 of the cash would be earmarked for joint funding initiatives with schools, where the authority provides 50 per cent of funding, which is matched by a school to make improvements.

A further £100,000 of the cash would also be put aside to improve children’s homes.

Plans are still being made for the remaining £743,693 which will go to Cabinet for approval at a later date.