Government should fund the PFI gap!

12.03.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 15th May 2008

Cllr. Richard Church

At the Annual County Council Meeting Liberal Democrat Councillor Richard Church called for the Government to fund any shortfall in the PFI programme for the rebuilding of Northampton Schools where the Secretary of State blocks the sale of playing fields to meet the standards for playing field provision.

Councillor Church welcomed the decision of the Secretary of State to prevent the disposal of playing fields at Parklands Middle School.

He said: "The County Council rather than trying to sell all the sites in one deal should have discussed each site individually to see if they are required for community use before trying to sell everything off on-bloc."

The motion to Council read: "This Council welcomes the decision of the Secretary of State for Education to prevent the disposal of playing fields at Parklands Middle School for development. This Council calls upon the Government to re-imburse the council for the retention of any playing fields due for development under the PFI funding agreement that are required to meet the standards for playing field provision in Northampton"