‘ Incredible’ cost of new schools

Payments reach almost £ 1 million a month

Payments for plush schools are costing council chiefs almost £ 1 million per month, it has been revealed.

Six new- builds, constructed by doomed Carillion as part of a Public Private Partnership deal, continue to drain the balance sheet.

More than £ 11m will be spent in costs this year, the Post has learned.

Union leaders have labelled the repayment and maintenance fees “utterly incredible”.

Council bosses inked a contract with the Education 4 Ayrshire ( E4A) consortium in 2006 for the £ 76m project.

New primaries at Alloway, Barassie and Monkton were built, along with Prestwick and Belmont academies.

Ayr’s Kyle Academy received a new annexe as part of the scheme.

Paul Arkison, of the GMB Union, said: “It is utterly incredible that this council will be paying close to £ 1,000,000 per month for this much criticised scheme.

“Only a few weeks ago they were considering closing many public facilities while at the same time forking out this absurd amount of money to pay private companies who have no interest in the good people of South Ayrshire.”

It follows recent budget proposals which include a potential savings to be put back into local services and protecting local jobs.”

A spokesman for South Ayrshire Council said: “In order to qualify for Scottish Government funding, the council entered into a Public Private Partnership ( PPP) contract with Education 4 Ayrshire in 2006, with ‘ unitary charge’ payments made each year as per the terms of the agreement.

“Once the contract concludes, the schools will be handed back in a fit for purpose condition so they will be safe, structurally sound, and fully maintained, making sure our young people continue to benefit from this investment for many years.”