Despite boasting it would do so in its election manifesto, the Scottish Government has been branded “deplorable” in its refusal to pay towards the delivery of the new St Kentigern’s Academy
A meeting of the full council backed a motion by the chair of the Education Executive Councillor Andrew McGuire condemning the lack of response and demanding clarification on promises made before and during the election.
An amendment from the SNP group said there was “no documentary evidence” that Holyrood had offered £15m.
The school was officially opened earlier this month after a £35m rebuild. For the last three years the council has been asking the Scottish Government to cover £15m which the council has had to borrow to complete the rebuild
Despite promises from ministers nothing has come from Holyrood and now the council faces paying back £30m on a £15m loan over the next three decades.
That is money which will come from local taxpayers and be culled from local budgets including education.
Councillor McGuire’s motion said: “In the recent SNP manifesto for the Scottish Parliament election on page 58 there was a commitment to ear-marked funding for the rebuilding of St Kent’s yet despite attempts by the Leader of the Council to clarify when this funding will be forthcoming no response has been received.”
There had been no response from the Scottish Government in the four months since the election.
He told the meeting: “We’ve had nothing, we have had absolutely nothing, we didn’t even get an acknowledgement. The SNP want to play politics. They put it in their manifesto. They need to put the money where their mouth is. It’s deplorable”.
He called on local SNP MSPs to be at the Cabinet Secretary “day on day” until a commitment was made to the people of West Lothian. “We won’t settle for anything less than that.”
Seconding the motion the council leader Lawrence Fitzpatrick said: “This sets out clearly what the position was.”
He said that since the beginning of the year he had written more letters to Scottish ministers “than primary school children write to Santa”.
He added: “It is the case that Jenny Gilruth the then education secretary, fully understood the problem. We were under the clear, clear impression that she would give us the £15m because we were spending. Because of delays we have had to borrow £15m and this will affect schools.”
In an amendment by the SNP group. Councillor Moira McKee Shemilt said there was “ no publicly available documentary evidence confirming such a formal commitment has been identified.”
The amendment added: “Council now welcomes the commitment contained in the SNP 2026 manifesto to deliver the next phase of the Learning Estate Investment Programme, which specifically identifies the rebuilding of St Kentigern’s Academy in West Lothian as an initial project earmarked for support.
“Council therefore agrees: To instruct the Chief Executive to write to the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government welcoming the Scottish Government’s commitment to support for St Kentigern’s Academy and seeking confirmation of the amount of funding to be provided, the mechanism through which it will be provided and the anticipated timescale for payment.”
The meeting heard that former Bathgate councillor, now local MSP Pauline Stafford had sought meetings with ministers to secure an agreement on funding.
Councillor Craig Meek, Labour said: “Yet another promise. Yet another let-down.”
Councillor Peter Heggie, the depute Provost said that SNP candidates in the election hustings had made the promise that St Kent’s would receive funding.
He told the meeting that during the last Scottish Parliament the SNP government delivered only 33% of their election promises. He added: “We would ask you to please stick to your promises and give us the money.”
Councillor Sally Pattle, Lib Dem, reminded the meeting that West Lothian has been one of the few councils that went out and did the job properly in fixing RAAC problems.
“Here we are four months after the election despite yet again contacting the Scottish Government, I feel like I have gone through the looking glass. I cannot believe what I’ve heard from colleagues on the other side of the chamber today. It is a courtesy to respond when the chief executive of a council or council leader writes to the Scottish Government to ask for information yet repeatedly that has not happened.
She added: “I’m delighted to hear that the new MSP for Bathgate has instigated meeting but if she has done so it would be really good for those in this room and the officers who have been working for so many yeast to get this rectified to hear who she has met with and what she has done and what the outcomes are going to be.”
The motion agreed: “To instruct the Chief Executive to write to the Depute First Minister seeking clarification on the Scottish Government’s current position regarding financial support for investment at St Kentigern’s Academy and requesting confirmation of whether any contribution will be made towards the project.
“ 2. To instruct the Chief Executive to write to both West Lothian constituency MSPs with a copy of this motion.
“3. To instruct the Depute Chief Executive (Education, Planning and Economic Development) to write to the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills seeking a detailed update on any funding opportunities, programme support, or alternative mechanisms through which the Scottish Government could assist with the project and to offer to visit St Kent’s to see the new extension.”
After the meeting a spokesperson for the council added: “West Lothian Council is writing to the Scottish Government to ask for an update on financial support for St Kentigern’s Academy in Blackburn.
“Following a motion approved by a meeting of the full West Lothian Council today (Tuesday 22 September), a letter will be sent to Depute First Minister Jenny Gilruth asking for clarification on the Scottish Government’s current position on financial support for St Kentigern’s.
“This includes seeking confirmation of whether any contribution will be made towards the project.”
Over 60% of St Kentigern’s had to be demolished due to issues with Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC). St. Kentigern’s serves pupils from across the west of West Lothian, including towns such as Armadale, Bathgate and Whitburn.
The new £35 million replacement extension was completed earlier this year, with the council borrowing a £15 million to ensure the essential project could be delivered.
The cost of this borrowing is around £1 million per year for the next 30 years, which will have a major impact on council finances going forward.
A commitment was given in the SNP Manifesto for the 2026 Scottish Parliament elections that, in the next parliament, the SNP would deliver the next phase of the Learning Estate Investment Programme. The rebuilding of St Kentigern’s being an initial project earmarked for support. However, to date, no detail of financial support to the council has been provided
The spokesperson added: “The motion also noted the importance of ensuring that the pupils and staff at St Kentigern’s Academy have access to high-quality, modern educational facilities, and commended council officers for their swift action to demolish the affected areas, plan for and oversee a new extension all at great speed, after RAAC was identified.
“It also placed on record sincere thanks to the staff, pupils and parents and the school community for their patience while the demolition and building works were being completed.”
By Stuart Sommerville, Local Democracy Reporter
