Cash-strapped Dumfries and Galloway Council will not be receiving any government support to pay off a £7.6m bill to remove a potentially dangerous building material from schools.
Councillors have expressed serious concerns about the local authority being able to afford the expensive project to clear reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) from the roofs of four schools and Annan Swimming Pool.
Speaking at the council’s finance committee last Thursday, Abbey Councillor Davie Stitt (pictured) said he feared the bill may end up even higher.
Councillor Stitt said: “This council is facing financial problems and the chair, vice chair, or leader of the council should write to the Scottish Government requesting (financial) support for this RAAC.”
Nith Councillor John Campbell said: “It’s another financial headache for us, however this is not unique to Scotland. It’s the whole of the United Kingdom.
“Is there going to be any consequentials coming from Westminster that would alleviate some of this funding?”
Paul Garrett, the council’s head of finance and procurement, said: “Unfortunately the indications are that there’s unlikely to be any additional funding passed to councils in the UK to support these additional requirements.
“This is something that’s been going on for quite a while. There are a number of councils who are affected to a greater extent than ours in terms of the bill associated with this.
“But to date there’s been no indication that’s likely to result in additional monies being passed through to councils.”
Work is already underway for removing RAAC from Laurieknowe Primary, Gatehouse Primary, Carrutherstown Primary and Dumfries Academy.
Councillors last week signed off on an additional £420,000 to be spent on these initial remedial works, which takes that first bill to £920,000, and will be funded from an underspend in the loan charges/interest on revenue balances budget.
However, complete removal will be a staggering £7.6m more.
RAAC is an inferior material that some structural engineers have warned could eventually lead to a collapse. While there is no suggestion of any immediate danger, Dumfries and Galloway Council has taken swift action to make sure these buildings are safe.
Paying for this crucial safety work will be spread out over the next three financial years.
