Budget will see £62 million investment in schools
Perth & Kinross Council has agreed a budget which invests £62 million in school building projects over the next five years and sees a continued freeze on council tax.
The budget also sees spending on job creation, new housing and support for vulnerable people.
Under the budget the Band D council tax level will remain at £1,158 for the sixth year running.
The £62 million investment will provide significant upgrades as well as new builds at Oakbank Primary School and Alyth Primary School. It will also be spent on improvements to science and technology facilities at Perth Grammar School, and the building of new state-of-the-art sports facilities at Perth Academy.
On top of this, new primary schools will be built in Crieff and Invergowrie. Projects will be completed or accelerated across other parts of the school estate, including:
• Abernethy Primary School
• Almondbank House II
• Blairgowrie High School
• Braco Nursery / Greenloaning Primary School
• Dunning Primary School
• Glenlyon Primary and Nursery School
• Inchture Primary School
• Kinnoull Primary School
• Luncarty Primary School
• Perth Academy
• Perth High School
• Rattray Primary School (community facilities)
This funding will also contribute towards the construction of a new primary school at Oudenarde.
The school building projects will help to boost the local economy, providing much-needed jobs in the local construction industry. Around 1,000 jobs a year will be secured through this programme of investment.
Leader of the Council, Councillor Ian Miller, said, “I am very proud to announce this major investment in the future of our young people.
“It is vitally important that we can give students in Perth and Kinross the skills they need to succeed in the modern job market, and that we do all we can to encourage our youngsters to fulfil their potential. The future prosperity of our local communities depends on it.
“This Council is determined to provide a high quality education for all Perth and Kinross children, using modern facilities that will allow them to flourish. Today’s announcement underlines our commitment towards that aim.”
£250,000 a year will be made available to help tackle youth unemployment in Perth and Kinross. This investment will provide modern apprenticeships and professional traineeships each year within the Council for 40 young people. The money will attract further inward investment of at least £100,000 from Skills Development Scotland to support the training of those young people.
The proposals include £100,000 towards employability support. This will allow the Council to work with partner agencies to help people find jobs in Perth and Kinross.
An additional £205,000 will be spent on measures to promote economic growth across Perth and Kinross. These include:
• £90,000 to provide advice on small businesses, self employment opportunities, and funding and developing community asset transfers
• £75,000 to fund a bid to attract broadband investment
• £40,000 to market the area as a great place to do business.
Councillor Miller added: “This Budget will give the people of Perth and Kinross the skills, the support, the jobs they need in these straitened times. Our residents deserve this investment in their future.
“The proposals will help people into employment, ensure local businesses can continue to thrive, improve our infrastructure and support local entrepreneurship.”
A further £61m will be spent over the next five years on improving existing Council housing stock for tenants, and building new Council houses.
In addition, £247,000 will be spent on protecting vulnerable people. £100,000 will be used to expand the Council’s Welfare Rights Service, £63,000 will be invested in homelessness prevention and £84,000 will be spent on expanding financial advice services to the public.
Depute Leader, Councillor George Hayton, added, “I’m delighted that prudent financial management has allowed this Council to invest further in its schools and infrastructure, as well as ensuring money is spent where it is needed most, supporting the most vulnerable in our society. This budget focuses on the learning environments and skills necessary for young people, while also boosting the local economy.”
