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There are fears that the cost of three schools for families expected to move into houses in the New Eastern Villages could fall on Swindon Borough Council. And the one secondary and two primary schools needed for the 8,000 homes to be built in the major expansion could cost the council up to £65million – money it does not have. The new schools for the NEV were due to be built under the Free Schools programme – but that programme was paused in October last year by the government.
A motion to the full council meeting by Conservative Councillors Jake Chandler and Gary Sumner said: “ If the government withdraws these three schools from the Free School programme, then Swindon Borough Council will be required to borrow £65 million to build the schools. “Cabinet did not highlight this risk to members during the budget setting process." READ MORE: Everything you need to know about the NEV The motion, urged the cabinet member for education to brief all councillors on the risk and for the council leader to write to the Minister of Education explaining: “The importance of these three schools for the growth of the town, the need for clarity from government on when the decision on the Free Schools Programme will be made, the necessity for government to fully fund the schools, and that if Swindon Borough Council has to borrow a further £65 million to build these schools then further pressure will be added to declare a bankruptcy notice.
” Seconding the motion, Conservative group leader Gary Sumner said: “The free schools programme announced under the previous Conservative government is an essential component to deliver the estimated 8,500 homes, which are an essential part of Swindon’s housing strategy. READ MORE: Swindon Council's budget needs help from government “Without these schools, it will be impossible to create a sustainable community and because of the delay in delivering the first school in my “To enable Swindon to deliver this key part of our housing delivery, the Labour Government must stand by the commitment to deliver these free schools.” In response, the cabinet member for education, Councillor Adorabelle Shaikh said: “The council stays engaged with the department for education.
” Cllr Shaikh said she had already written to Swindon’s MPs to ask them to emphasise to the secretary of state the importance of it funding the three schools. She said: “Like other councils, we have highlighted our financial burdens and the importance of these three schools.” She said the DfE and the council have been in regular communication about the importance of the schools.
The Conservative motion was defeated by Labour, independent and Liberal Democrat councillors voting against it..
