West Lothian Council has been snubbed by Holyrood for £15m it needs for the rebuild of St Kentigern’s Academy.
The Public Finance minister responded to a plea made directly to John Swinney, the First Minister by council leader Lawrence Fitzpatrick.
Councillor Fitzpatrick said a previous promise of funding for the school was now being reneged on. He has written again to Mr Swinney, telling the First Minister: “ a pledge is a pledge.”
The school is expected to reopen later this year after the extensive works which saw 60% of the original building torn down because of RAAC crumbling concrete roof panels.
The council has used £20m of its own resources and has made repeated calls to the Scottish Government to cover the last £15m needed. Without it the council faces a 20-year repayment on borrowed funds- which would cost it £30m.
Mr Fitzpatrick, who leads the minority Labour administration in Livingston, first wrote to Mr Swinney last month urging him to honour promises made to him and Education executive councillor Andrew McGuire by the Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth.
In his first letter to My Swinney Councillor Fitzpatrick said the minister had acknowledged that St Kent’s was “an exceptional case”. The need for the funding was agreed cross- party and supported by the two SNP MSPs in West Lothian.
In response the Minister for Public Finance Ivan McKee wrote to the council leader saying: “At present, we are unable to offer additional funding through LEIP for St Kentigern’s Academy.
“Nevertheless, we remain committed to working collaboratively with COSLA, local authorities, and Scottish Futures Trust to explore how we can deliver further improvements to the school estate efficiently and effectively. I would encourage West Lothian Council to maintain close engagement with Scottish Government officials and Scottish Futures Trust as this work progresses.”
He added: “This matter remains under active consideration as part of our wider approach to supporting Scotland’s learning estate.”
Responding to Mr McKee’s letter the council leader wrote back to the First Minister this week.
Councillor Fitzpatrick said: “there is a serious breach of the undertaking given to Cllr Andrew McGuire my Chair of Education and myself by the Cabinet Secretary for Education who visited the school last winter when it was under massive reconstruction to the effect that the desperately needed £15 million would be provided.
“It sadly is the case that follow up letters to Ms Gilruth have been met with a deafening silence.
“My Council is not seeking LEIP funding as suggested by Mr McKee, which as you know is subject to a bidding process.A pledge is a pledge which is expected to be honoured.”
He added: “As First Minister acting within the powers bestowed on you quickly reacted to desperate pleas and provided £20m for a concert hall in Edinburgh and £10m for Glasgow Central Rail Station fire.
“Clearly Mr McKee has not completely slammed the door on my request but I get the clear impression that the ask has been kicked into the long grass.”
He concluded by saying: “As we approach Easter and with it the spirit of light and a new beginning I would plead on behalf of the community at St Kent’s, much of which covers communities suffering poverty and deprivation to step forward honourably as First Minister and provide the £15m as promised by your Cabinet Secretary for Education.”
Contacted by the Local Democracy Reporting the First Minister’s office detailed that in 2026-27, West Lothian Council will receive £498.9 million to fund local services.
It added that while the statutory responsibility for managing and maintaining schools rests with local authorities, the Scottish Government continues to provide investment in the school estate.
West Lothian Council has benefited from funding through the Scottish Government’s £2 billion Learning Estate Investment Programme (LEIP), supporting projects such as Beatlie School Campus and East Calder Primary School, which are now complete and receiving annual outcomes-based funding.
By Stuart Sommerville, Local Democracy Reporter
