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Dalbeatie High School plan moves forward
Jul 8 2010
by Doug Archibald, Galloway News
THE FIRST tentative steps towards an in demand new high school for Dalbeattie have been given the go-ahead.
But the move has also landed councillors with a major dilemma.
The Scottish Government’s cash carrot of £7.6 million towards the new build was too enticing to turn down.
However, the “can’t look a gifthorse in the mouth” decision means the authority now has to find the balance – as much as £12 million according to education bosses.
And that’s against the looming spectre of massive budget cuts of at least 12 per cent over the next three years.
The corporate policy committee agreed Dalbeattie High School should be one of only three priority projects the council concentrates on this financial year. With a price tag of £19.6 million it’s by far and away the most expensive. The decision means initial development work on how to take the project forward can get under way. Councillors will ponder a progress report in the autumn.
The decision was widely welcomed by the town’s elected representatives although all are well aware of the major funding difficulties. SNP group leader Rob Davidson is not getting hung up on the £12 million contribution just yet. He described it as a “best estimate”. He said: “What we actually spend depends on what we decide to build and that decision has not been taken yet. This is a major project complicated by a lack of information. “We won’t know exactly what funding the council is to get until much later in the year, probably November.
“We have been given money for a high school but it’s not really been decided what we are going to build. “However, it’s another step forward. “We have still got a long way to go. There are obviously still hurdles to get over but this has cleared another one and I’m very pleased about that.”
Labour member Davie Stitt said the reality of the situation lay in budget cuts.“The worry is where we are going to find the money,” he said. “They are talking about massive cuts over the next few years so that is of some concern. But it is a step in the right direction and with the new board meeting on Monday hopefully we will move forward.”
Conservative Ian Blake was pleased and pragmatic. “I’m delighted it has taken the first step,” he said. “Investment by the Scottish Government gave it a great start. My feeling is it would be silly to have turned that down. “There is obviously a long way to go although we do have a deadline of 2014. “A lot of consultation work has already been started looking at various options for the school but a lot will depend on the money available at the time.”
Meanwhile, chief executive Gavin Stevenson has apologised for the lack of movement on the school project.
Councillor Davidson, supported by Jane Maitland, raised the issue through a special motion to full council last week. They wanted to know why a decision, taken back in November, to set up a member/officer working group had been left in limbo.
Councillor Davidson said: “Gavin Stevenson, much to my surprise, offered an apology and gave a commitment that the Dalbeattie HighSchool project will be one for which he takes personal responsibility.
“I thought that was very welcome and very encouraging.”
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