Task force tackles schools black hole
A special team of advisors has been set up by Liverpool City Council to produce a 'plan B' for its schools rebuilding programme after the Building Schools for the Future plans were pulled.
Liverpool had planned to replace 25 secondary schools but the construction spend was cancelled as part of the Government's education cuts on 5 July.
A panel of "leaders in the fields of education, business and investment" headed by Max Steinberg, chief executive of economic development agency Liverpool Vision will try to resurrect the city's estates programme.
The council said it plans to bid for half of the original funding allocation and find "innovative ways of supplementing it with additional resources". Options include selling off land and assets to raise funds, and identifying vacant sites around the city which would be suitable for schools.
The cross-party task force comprises:
- Max Steinberg
- Lorraine Dodd, investment director at Liverpool stockbroker Rathbone
- John Flamson, director of partnerships and innovation at the University of Liverpool
- Cllr Joe Anderson, Labour leader of Liverpool City Council
- Cllr Jane Corbett
- Cllr Paul Twigger, Liberal Democrat opposition spokesman