News:Layout 1 01/07/2009 14:52 Page 6
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Tory anger at Labour’s ‘lucky thirteen’
THE TORIES have accused the Government on the education and skills environment in
of only giving the go-ahead to college their locality by transforming the
building projects in Labour-held seats, condition of college buildings. In
after the green light was given to just 13 conjunction with wider regeneration
of 144 frozen further education projects. projects to which they are integral, they
David Willetts, the shadow secretary will help to revitalise communities.”
for Universities and Skills, attacked the The 13 colleges will be expected to
decision, saying, “The Government has make cost reductions to their initial
decided only projects in Labour seats can project plans, to maximise borrowing
get support – Labour’s lucky thirteen.” within prudent limits, and to examine
The 13 colleges chosen to proceed are: other possible sources of funds, while at
Barnsley College, Bournville College, the same time maintaining the planned
Furness College, Hartlepool College of project benefit for future learners and
Further Education, Kirklees College, enabling construction to proceed rapidly.
Leyton Sixth Form College, Manchester Many of the colleges left on hold have
College –Wythenshawe, North West Kent incurred development costs for projects
College, St Helens College, Sandwell which will not now be going ahead in the
College, South Thames College, Tresham short term. Russell says there is a
Institute of Further and Higher contingency fund to “mitigate the impact”
Education, Corby West Cheshire College. of potential aborted costs on their
financial health. This will be limited to
Regeneration schemes those appropriately incurred within the
Geoff Russell, ceo of the Learning Skills terms of the capital programme. LSC
Council maintains that these are the investment for further college schemes
projects that will bring the greatest benefit will not be available until the next
David Willetts.
to learners and communities across the Spending Review period starting in
country. “They will have a substantial impact 2011/2012.
Joining up services and funding streams
£200M HAS BEEN allocated for 101 projects
across England that bring together
children and family’s services on single
sites – from education and health to
housing, play facilities and careers advice.
The Co-location Fund, which was
announced as part of The Children’s Plan:
One Year On report in December and
which is managed by Partnerships for
Schools (PfS), is backing a wide range of
projects, by providing between £50,000 to
£10m to help deliver joined-up facilities.
Projects include children’s centres;
careers advice; youth clubs; health
services, including mental health, drug
and alcohol treatment centres; family
support services; Combined Cadet Force
facilities; and independent housing for
young people leaving care to help their
transition into longer-term, more
permanent accommodation.
Children’s secretary Ed Balls,
commented: “It is not down to teachers
to deal with problems on their own – but
it is essential that they can easily tap
into services to give young people,
Ed Balls: Schools do not exist in isolation.
families and local people the help they
need, when they need it. Schools do not
exist in isolation to the rest of their Examples include a £3.2m project in and, in a £10m scheme in Westminster,
communities. Many schools already join Leicester, where eight ‘integrated service Malborough Hill Campus will deliver co-
up work with public, voluntary and private hubs’ are to be located in and around located community services including
sector services and organisations – that schools and other existing community education, children’s services, children and
should be the norm in every single school.” services delivery points across the city; family-based NHS, plus youth services.
6 edbmagazine.co.uk
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