West Lothian Council has demanded clarity from The Scottish Government over £15m in promised funding for St Kentigern’s Academy, after months of silence, despite a manifesto commitment made ahead of May’s Holyrood election.
The council has made repeated requests for the funding over three years, only for a pledge to finally appear in the SNP’s election manifesto. But the local authority’s Finance Director told a meeting of the Executive that contact with the new administration since the election had gone unanswered.
Linlithgow’s Lib Dem councillor Sally Pattle urged The Scottish Government to stand by the manifesto pledge.
She had raised the question as councillors were given an update on the council’s capital investment programme.
The school in Blackburn had 60% of its original buildings demolished after RAAC roofing panels were discovered three years ago. A new school building opened at the start of the summer term.
In a report to the Executive Alasdair Black the Finance Director said: “There is some remaining works to be completed at St Kentigern’s Academy which includes resurfacing works in the playground following the removal of the temporary units.
Pupils were welcomed to the rebuilt school after Easter.
Mr Black told councillors: “All works are planned to be complete for Summer 2026. This full project has been delivered within the agreed budget.”
West Lothian has paid £20m towards the rebuilding but faces having to borrow the extra £15m needed to foot the £35 million total bill. That would cost the council £30m over 20 years.
After the meeting councillor Pattle told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) : “I was surprised, but extremely pleased to see that funding to help with the remedial RAAC works at St Kentigern’s Academy was specifically mentioned in the recent SNP manifesto for the Holyrood elections.
“I am unfortunately not surprised to hear that despite West Lothian Council making contact with the Scottish Government since the election in May, there’s been no response regarding how much funding we can expect, or when it’s going to materialise
“I’d remind the Scottish Government that West Lothian Council has currently spent more than £35million rebuilding St Kentigern’s, money we can little afford, and I urge them not to break their manifesto promise this early into their term.”
In March the council leader Lawrence Fitzpatrick wrote to the First Minister after Minister for Public Finance Ivan McKee wrote to the council saying: “At present, we are unable to offer additional funding through LEIP for St Kentigern’s Academy.”
He added: “This matter remains under active consideration as part of our wider approach to supporting Scotland’s learning estate.”
In his letter to John Swinney Councillor Fitzpatrick said a previous Education Secretary had acknowledged that St Kent’s was “an exceptional case”. The need for the funding was agreed cross- party and supported at the time by the two SNP MSPs in West Lothian.
by Stuart Somerville, Local Democracy Reporter.
