Herefordshire Council to spend just under £3m on school maintenance

County council leaders have given the go-ahead for officers to spend just under £3m on maintaining schools at schools across Herefordshire.

The Department for Education allocates capital funding each year to Herefordshire Council for maintenance works on their school estates.

The council is looking at a £2.940m work programme over the next two years which includes roof repair, asbestos surveys, fire alarm upgrades, drainage, heating and ventilation works at around 30 local schools.

Commissioning, procurement and assets cabinet member Gemma Davies said it was important for the council to make sure the work is on track every year.

“The pandemic this year has shown more than ever how your surroundings will affect your ability to learn or work.

“It is therefore so important that annually we set up a maintenance schedule for our schools.

“It is essential that we ensure our works remain as planned maintenance and not as remedial.

“Remedial works costs significantly more and means our children and young people are not in the best possible conditions for learning.”

She also said after the pandemic ends, the council should focus its efforts on using Herefordshire firms wherever possible.

“Our building and maintenance businesses across the county will have been hit very hard during the past year.”

Children and families cabinet member Felicity Norman said she completely agreed with councillor Davies’ comments

She said it was very important to improve the condition for the county’s children and school staff.

“The proposals will also help us meet our environmental commitments in particular reducing carbon and improving air quality.

“We also hope that by investing now we will save costs in the future.”

Cabinet unanimously approved the proposals.