Council leader pledges to end school rip-off charges
VIEWPARK councillor and North Lanarkshire Council leader Jim McCabe this week promised to ensure that groups who organise fundraising events for schools are not overcharged for using the school's facilities.
The pledge was given after a parent teacher association in Viewpark held a summer fayre fundraiser in a nearby church rather than the school grounds.
Last year the PTA at John Paul II Primary was charged more than 300 by North Lanarkshire Council for the school grounds.
Members stressed the venue was changed because the church was better suited to the event's needs and not because of concerns over the cost.
But calls have been made for the letting arrangements to be clarified.
SNP group leader Councillor Richard Lyle said: "The council are now falling over themselves to clarify the situation, but we have to simplify the process of how lets are allocated."
Councillor McCabe said he would make sure there was no repeat.
He said: "There is no way this should have happened and I am extremely disappointed that the PTA felt they could not use the school for their fun day."
Council community facilities manager Lorna Milligan said groups who make bookings through the school should be charged around 70 for the day.
She said: "Last year's charges were never queried so we were unaware of concerns."
Full story in September 2 edition of Bellshill Speaker
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Weather for Motherwell, Scotland
Friday 25 May 2012
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