SPELL OUT FOR SCHOOL CASH PLAN – LABOUR

26 August 2005

Plans to spend £20 million on a new super-school for Swansea could be illegal unless it is made clear where the money is coming from, it was claimed today. Labour councillors have threatened to launch a challenge to the scheme for a multi-million pound makeover of Bishop Gore school.

They have questioned whether the authority can legally commit to spending such a large amount without being more specific about the source of the funding.

The plans, part of a major shake-up of the city's education system, have already been condemned by campaigners battling to save Dylan Thomas school, which would close under the proposals.

They have been pressing the council to explain how it intends to fund the refurbishment.

The authority has said the cash will come from the capital programme.

But opponents are demanding more details.

Labour leader David Phillips said today: "Although the cabinet has the power to embark on projects over £4 million in value, it is not clear if they can legally commit the council to this kind of spending without spelling out how the finance is to be put together.

"At the moment, they look as if they're making it up as they go along."

He added that it was only months since the capital (borrowing) budget had been set.

There are already question marks over whether schemes such as the seafront leisure centre refurbishment can go ahead if crucial land sell-offs flounder or fail to get planning permission.

Past challenges to cabinet decisions have been rejected by the presiding officer.

Labour councillors admitted they do not expect the trend to change.

But they insist they will still be pressing for John Newbury, the cabinet member for finance, to make a full statement to council.

Opposition councillors also want the finance scrutiny committee to look at why the practice of providing quarterly monitoring reports has been abandoned.

"These are important safeguards and likely to become all the more important in the future", added Councillor Phillips.