Highland schools and leisure facilities works brought forward.

Members of The Highland Council’s Education, Culture and Sport Committee have agreed to bring forward £1.038 million of Capital Funding Projects to help offset an estimated £3.6 million projected underspend in the current financial year 2011/12.

Approved projects in the Capital Programme which are being brought forward include works at:

At Kingussie High School additional works related to the removal of demountable accommodation and construction of an extension to the main school entrance. These works, totalling £0.550M include: installation of sprinklers, relocation of a bio-mass boiler, and redesign of the reception and entrance area, creation of links between the main building and new extension and other remedial works.

Sub-standard timber floors in the games hall and gymnasium at Culloden Academy used by both the school and local community will be replaced at a cost of £0.070M.

To alleviate accommodation pressures identified in a recent school primary school review at Knockbreck and Craighill Primary Schools in Tain, Gaelic pre-school provision will be moved from Knockbreck to Craighill in order to create more space at Knockbreck.  Members approved £0.100M expenditure to create additional accommodation capacity through internal building alteration at Craighill Primary.

Following an inspection of Secondary School technical equipment, health and safety recommendations included the replacement of a significant amount of existing machinery. Members approved and additional £0.150M worth of expenditure on top of a prior £0.250M commitment made in November 2011.

Additional expenditure of £0.120M has been brought forward to works on the upper floor at Dingwall Leisure Centre which will improve the range and quality of facilities on offer.

At Lochaber High School, £0.048M has been approved to purchase of a disabled access mini-bus to replace the existing vehicle at Lochaber High School.