School Upgradings Gven Piority I Council Capital Programme
23rd June 2010
School projects are given priority in the spending plans agreed by The Highland Council for the next five years and beyond. More than £150 million has been set aside for school improvements or new schools.
The recognition is that the Council needs to review its school portfolio to provide modern community schools. This could mean a new school being built to replace two or more schools.
Inverness Royal Academy is earmarked to receive £36.3 million and Wick High School, £34.2 million.
£46.6 million is set aside for improvements to other secondary schools in the Highlands; £22.5 million for implementing the recommendations of the Grater Fort William Primary School Review; and £17 million for improvements to primary schools, including £3.7 million for extensions to primary schools in Inverness.
£3.7 million is allocated to replace the Black Isle Education Centre and £2.7 million to upgrade Kingussie High School.
£5 million is allocated to upgrading residential homes for older people.
The replacement of office accommodation in Wick attracts £7.5 million and £2 million is set aside for office accommodation in Kingussie.
£13.5 million is set aside for structural carriageway improvements and £3 million for minor roads, while major bridge and lifeline bridge upgradings will receive £10 million and lifeline roads £1.5 million.
Flood prevention schemes will receive ££6.8 million.
Councillor David Alston, Budget Leader, said: "We are committed to targeting our spending on education, through improvements to school buildings and new build to replace schools no longer fit for purpose. Investment of £150 million is a huge commitment to our young people. This will require reviewing education provision and creating modern schools with community facilities. We will also be modernising waste management and increasing recycling."
Related Businesses
Related Articles
Members have considered an update on the Council's medium term financial plan and the impact of the UK and Scottish Governments’ budgets on the coming year’s funding settlement. The position is currently looking more positive than initially planned for, however more detail needs to be worked through.
In November, The Highland Council launched a public statutory consultation to seek views on the proposed introduction of a Visitor Levy scheme across the Highlands. The Council has announced an extension to this consultation period, which will now give businesses, visitors and communities until 31 March 2025, an additional seven weeks, to take part and have their say.
In the light of the financial forecast for 2025-26, Highland Council is inviting you to tell us more in the budget preparation for the coming financial year. The budget engagement builds on extensive budget participation which took place in the winter of 2023-24.
The information provided is a summary of reports from operational staff and is intended to give a general indication of typical conditions in each area at a point in time. It is not intended to imply that any individual route is entirely snow and ice free and drivers must be aware that conditions can change rapidly and make their own assessment of conditions for travelling.
Every year Highland Council invites all tenants to have their say on the rent levels for the following year. The Council encourages everyone that lives in a council house to take this chance to have their say.
Communities and Place Committee met yesterday (Wednesday 27 November 2024) and Members agreed the Highland Local Child Poverty Action Report which includes actions for delivery in 2024/25. Reducing child poverty is a priority for the Council and its partners.
The information provided is a summary of reports from operational staff and is intended to give a general indication of typical conditions in each area at a point in time. It is not intended to imply that any individual route is entirely snow and ice free and drivers must be aware that conditions can change rapidly and make their own assessment of conditions for travelling.
Members of the Highland Council's Community and Place Committee have given their support to an action plan focusing on the operating of public conveniences over the next 10 years. Whilst not a statutory function, the Council is the main provider of public conveniences located throughout Highland, operating 74 sites.
A report published on 27 November 2024 by LGIU (Local Government Information Unit) looks at the state of funding for councils by the Scottish Government. Confidence in the sustainability of council finances is critically low.
At today's (Wednesday 27 November 2024) Communities & Place Committee, Members agreed the most appropriate long-term strategic direction for residual waste management is to continue to utilise a merchant provider solution. Communities & Place Committee Chair, Cllr Graham MacKenzie said: "After careful consideration and analysis it has been agreed that a merchant provider solution is considered the most appropriate long term solution to our statutory waste management obligations, and that an energy-from- waste facility within the Highlands is not considered to be a suitable course of action.
