School cash unspent

Oldham council overview budget meeting

AROUND £7million is going unspent out of school budgets, according to Saddleworth councillor John McCann.

A worried Councillor McCann asked if the unused money allocated by the local authority to schools can be used on other council services as damaging cuts rip through the borough.

He said: “Around £7million sat in an account is very worrying. I could understand it if it was going down, but it is actually going up.”

Borough treasurer Steven Mair said the council is “challenging” schools to see plans are taking place with the money available to them.

Funding cannot go back into the council, but can be redistributed to other schools.

Council leader Jim McMahon said: “Schools are very nervous about what is coming. There are some schools which see it as having a badge of honour in their bank account to make it look healthy and genuinely there are some who are trying to create a buffer, to cushion themselves in the future.”