• The Council is making the funds available now to ensure vital maintenance projects can progress in good time
• The £1 million of council funds will only be required if central government funding falls short of expected levels
Today, Tuesday December 3 2024, Cabinet approved a report which set aside monies for urgent investment in school property.
Newham Council believes it needs a minimum of £3.55m to improve its school estate – and hopes the grant from central government, when it’s announced (in March 2025), will meet this requirement. However, the Council feels it must act proactively now to guarantee funds which will allow schools to begin planning for urgent improvement works, causing the minimum disturbance to school life.
The Council is earmarking £1 million so schools can begin to plan improvements to existing buildings, including rewiring, boiler replacements, heating and water pipework replacement, roof replacements, window replacements, external structural works and playground reconstruction.
Councillor Sarah Ruiz, Cabinet member for Environment, Sustainable Transport, Children’s Services and Education said: “We need to be proactive so that works can be procured and begin over the summer holidays to ensure our children’s learning is not disrupted. We feel confident that the grant from the DFE will cover this work and for our children it’s a minimal risk worth taking.”
In recent years the sum allocated by central government has been around the £3.5 million mark – and it is hoped this year’s settlement will not fall short of that. The Council funding will only be required if there is a large shortfall.
The projects identified by the report tackle required works due to age and or potential failure that could impact on educational delivery at a school or have Health and Safety implications. Therefore, there is no real alternative, other than replace the particular building element which has effectively reached the end of life.
Cllr Ruiz said: “We all know that the new Government has inherited an economic nightmare from the last government, but we are hopeful of obtaining a fair grant, so we can deliver on our promise to make Newham the best place to grow, thrive and achieve.”
