I had the opportunity to look around Inverclyde's latest new schools this afternoon when I toured the new All Saints and Aileymill Primary Schools.
While they are not quite finished -the contractor is working flat out to have both schools ready for opening on 16 February - it was very evident that they are going to be fantastic facilities to work and learn in.
These two schools are part of the Council's Public Private Partnership project, which also includes the new Notre Dame High School and Clydeview Academy.
PPP is not without its critics and over the years that the Council has been developing its schools estates strategy Labour Councillors have been attacked by other parties for being prepared to support the use of PPP. We have always argued that as long as it represents best value to the Council taxpayers of Inverclyde, PPP had a role to play in helping us deliver the best possible learning environment for our young people.
When I see these new schools I know that the criticism - and on occasion abuse - we faced has been worth it.
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Old post, but I missed this.
ReplyDeleteThe criticism of PPP isn't that it can't deliver very well built schools, in many cases in faster time than government-sourced (since the private sector is better at getting things done because no-one will bail them out if they screw it up. Unless they're a bank).
The criticism, as you well know, is that it costs more. Stands to reason that if you go from building schools on a fixed budget, to getting them built by someone who wants to maximise profits, then either quality will fall (which is strictly monitored) or costs will soar.
Sure, it's easy over the short term, but look at the examples of the hospitals you lot built during your 8 years in Holyrood. They are haemorrhaging money as the companies seek to reap the rewards of their up-front investment. Not only that, but lacking the stat-control of a normal hosital, we can't even stop shady stuff like car-parking charges. It's not our hospital, it's Bupa's or FRF or whatever other company actually built it.
That's why it's a bad idea. It's DOESN'T "represent best value to the Council taxpayers of Inverclyde".
We will have to agree to disagree.
ReplyDeleteWhen the 4 schools are fully operational the Council will pay the consortium just over £9m a year for building and maintaining them.
The Scottish Government will pay the Council just over £6m a year in revenue support grant to help finance this project with the Council meeting the balance of £3m.
This is a very good deal for Inverclyde Council taxpayers, and more importantly our school children.
Whether it is good value for the Scottish Government and UK taxpayers is for others to address.