44 of them could require major repairs in the next three years
Members of Neath Port Talbot Council have heard how backlog maintenance costs of around £66m are currently required for work on the county borough’s schools.
The report was given at an education skills and wellbeing scrutiny committee on October 16 where council bosses were updated on the condition of the education estate across Neath Port Talbot as well as the associated backlog maintenance.
It noted that as of 2023 there was a total backlog maintenance of around £66m in schools across the borough with a capital financial allocation of only £1.2m set aside each year to tackle the issues.
It added that overall there were 44 schools in category C which means they would require “major repairs” in the next three years.
These consisted of 41 primary schools and three secondary schools.
The report said: “The capital maintenance works programme is a key scheme managed by the SSIP (Strategic School Improvement Programme) team and delivered by environment colleagues.
“This programme is aimed at delivering essential works to educational establishments in order to ensure business continuity.
“Essential works include a range of projects including window/ door replacement, roof works, toilet refurbishments, compliance work, boiler replacement, mechanical and electrical works, kitchen upgrade work, and a range of other maintenance works that enables educational establishments to operate on a daily basis.
“An annual budget of approx. £1.2m is allocated from central funding to address the capital maintenance works needs within the 63 schools within the local authority. This includes primary, secondary, all-through, and special schools.”
Addressing the meeting officers said it was a challenge due to the lack of funding available though noted that condition assessments were carried out as part of a rolling programme with a new surveyor expected to be appointed soon to work across the council as a whole.
The report also highlighted how to date the council’s Strategic School Improvement Programme had realised around £200m of investment across the school estate with projects such as a new build Llangatwg Community School and an extension to Ysgol Maes y Coed Special School currently being developed.
The report was noted by councillors in attendance.
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