EDUCATION officials are to pay millions repairing city schools already sharing a £300m makeover.
Last night, opposition leaders criticised Liverpool council for the “ticking time bomb” of repairs after learning £23m will be splashed on fixing defective boilers, rickety windows and upgrading electrics at 13 of its schools.
The “maintenance backlog” bill, to be met by the council and church, comes despite the fact the schools are to be refurbished and in some cases partly rebuilt between 2011-17 as part of the Government’s Building Schools For the Future (BSF) programme.
Schools include Notre Dame Catholic College, in Everton Valley, which is to get nearly £1.6m of repairs on top of its £24m makeover under the BSF scheme.
Last night, Liverpool city council insisted government rules meant the BSF cash could not be used to repair existing school structures.
The backlog was blamed on the fact the local authority prioritises schools with immediate safety concerns meaning “non-urgent” matters are put on the back burner.
But Labour opposition leaders condemned the council for allowing the repairs to build up and “teaching pupils in decrepit buildings.”
Paul Brant, deputy Labour leader, said: “It is absolutely crazy that these school buildings have been allowed to get like this.
“Racking up a £23m repair bill meaning the city’s pupils have been taught in inadequate conditions.
“The BSF investment is essential for the city, but it is unacceptable that the council has put these repairs off and are only now addressing it.
“It is only because of the government pressure with the BSF programme the council’s ticking timebomb of repairs has been uncovered.”
