Counting cost of a false start

GOVERNMENT delays have held up Oldham’s last two Sure Start children’s projects and could cost the Council £250,000.

The hubs, to serve the Saddleworth and Lees areas, were delayed earlier this year when the Department for Edu-cation reviewed the Sure Start grant schemes nationally.
Oldham’s grant allocation until 2011 was reduced from £4,500,000 to £3,120,000, and the local programme was revised.

But delays in putting the new programme into effect by the Department, and letters for contractors working on the hubs, led to work being suspended for 12 weeks.

The delay pushes the finishing target into May next year, past the March 31 deadline for grant spending.

Councillors have been told that all work which can be carried out before March 31 will be charged to Sure Start.

But officers are making contingencies to find £160,000 for Saddleworth, and £91,000 for Lees, from authority balances and Schools Access Initiative funding.

The Saddleworth North and South hub will be at the Satellite Centre in Greenfield, and the Saddleworth West and Lees hub will be at Springhead Junior School.