Ellie Ames 21 August 2024

Council ‘needs financial plan’ after £60m school blunder

Council ‘needs financial plan’ after £60m school blunder image
Image: James Jiao / Shutterstock.com

Renfrewshire Council has been urged to develop a financial plan after its miscalculation over school places was estimated to cost £60m to fix.

Public spending watchdog Audit Scotland also said concerns remained about a ‘lack of transparency’ over the potential impacts of the error on the council’s finances and services.

An independent review previously found ‘fundamental and obvious flaws’ in how Renfrewshire calculated the number of primary school places needed for Dargavel, leaving the village short of hundreds of places.

A new report by the Accounts Commission said the local authority had shown a clear commitment to engaging with communities but needed to ‘act on the breadth and strength of views’.

The watchdog's deputy chair, Andrew Burns, said councillors should have access to appropriate training and development ‘to ensure historic failures of leadership and governance’ were not repeated.

A council spokesperson said the impact of the additional costs were considered in ongoing financial planning and had been factored into planned borrowing.

The spokesperson added: ‘We have always provided an extensive programme of support for elected members to allow them to carry out their duties and will consider if there are any opportunities for this to be further strengthened.’

Skills Pipelines: What local government needs to know image

Skills Pipelines: What local government needs to know

Councils and mayors are to be handed a central role in developing skills pipelines for local industries, as the Government unveils what it calls a ‘fundamental change’ to the education system aimed at tackling youth unemployment. Here's what council leaders and officers need to know.
SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Head of Education

Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council
£87,117- £93,978
Knowsley Council is an award-winning Local Authority, named Local Authority of the Year in the Municipal Journal Awards 2024. Knowsley (Metropolitan borough), Merseyside
Recuriter: Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council

Service Managers – Children's Social Care

Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council
£61,863 - £67,592
Knowsley Council is an award-winning Local Authority, named Local Authority of the Year in the Municipal Journal Awards 2024. Knowsley (Metropolitan borough), Merseyside
Recuriter: Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council

Head of Commercial Services

Trafford Council
£77,339 - £83,714
Few boroughs have a story quite like Trafford’s. Trafford, Greater Manchester
Recuriter: Trafford Council

Head of Greater Manchester Shared Services

Trafford Council
£77,339 - £83,714
Few boroughs have a story quite like Trafford’s. Trafford, Greater Manchester
Recuriter: Trafford Council

Director of People and Organisational Culture

Sheffield City Council
£Competitive
Sheffield is a place like no other. Sheffield, South Yorkshire
Recuriter: Sheffield City Council
Linkedin Banner