Cash award correct
DESPITE concerns that the £11.2 million pledged from the government towards the building of a new Mearns Academy is inadequate, Mearns Community Council have been told that the figure is correct - according to the formula used.
Speaking at Monday's meeting chairman David Nelson said: "We have been told a new school will cost 40 million. The Scottish Futures Trust pledged to meet two-thirds of the cost and have awarded just 11.2 million. The sums just don't add up."
Councillor George Carr explained that the government has a formula for new school building and that is based on the current 641 roll of the school.
"We must try to put in place more than that. Secondary schools that have been built recently have been nearer 40 million and we want a community school with other facilities within the campus.
"The formula lays down exactly what will be financed on a like for like basis. Ellon is getting twice as much as Mearns, but they have a roll twice the size.
"We will have to find the money from other budgets within the council and that will be a major challenge."
Academy rector Ian Parkin agreed that two-thirds was being paid looking at the strict cost of a replacement building.
"Twelve square metres per pupil is allowed, so based on the current roll, the sum offered is factually correct.
"Confirmation of the 11 million is still extremely significant and it will force other things to happen."
Alan Mowat said: "Mearns Academy once had a roll of 670. The council has been driving the roll down and on the back of that, we have got less money. Between 10 and 20 pupils have been refused entry to the school this year."
Mr Nelson commented that the council would be looking to extract planning gain from developers to fund the new academy and Mr Mowat added that the authority would be sitting on some valuable land (the site of the current school) although it would be some time before they could sell it.
Councillor Carr said that the land for the new school would not be secured until the local plan is approved. The plan has slipped a bit and it will now be into next year before it is ratified.
Mr Mowat said that if the land was not purchased until 2011, that was a further delay.
Councillor Carr said: "There is an appeal process for the local plan, but we have got to get going soon. We need to get our stakeholder group up and running and be ready to rock and roll.
"There may be some sort of deal done with the developers for the land. We have identified that we need land for the school in the plan."
Mr Parkin told the meeting that the new S1 this year is absolutely full.
"We must look ahead in terms of capacity and give very careful consideration as to the roll."
The rector revealled that traffic calming measures are to be put in place outside the school as a safety measure and that these should be in place by August.
"The number of pupils eating lunch in Laurencekirk is very high, but we do not have the facilities to feed them in the school."
In view of the fact that 250 pupils go down the street at lunchtimes, Mr Parkin said he was pleased to hear from the community council that there had been no recent reports of bad behaviour or a litter problem.
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Friday 10 February 2012
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