Supporting schools through the impact of Liverpool Council’s energy contract mix-up could lead to the authority “robbing budgets aimed at the most needy”, according to its opposition leader.
Yesterday, it was confirmed that schools across the city would face a bill of more than £2m as a result of the city council’s error around its energy contract earlier this year. A litany of mistakes at the Cunard Building led to millions of pounds being added to the local authority’s bill. Council leaders were not informed that the electricity provider it was dealing with had withdrawn from the commercial market, leading to the council - and other city institutions including schools and the fire service - being placed on a far more expensive contract.
Cllr Tom Logan, Liverpool Council cabinet member for education and skills, told a select committee hearing last night that calculations had been made that determined that the additional amount faced by city schools now stood at £2.2m. The council has identified where that money will come from to help pay the shortfall and is working with the Department for Education to find a legal method to get it to classrooms as quickly as possible.
