Moray Council spent £260k on temporary classrooms that won't be used
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An inquiry will be held into why Moray Council spent £260,000 on temporary pre-school buildings that will not be used.
The two units were to provide accommodation for youngsters attending nursery at Aberlour Primary.
Children were to be moved out to allow for a £900,000 refurbishment at the school, as part of the council’s expansion of early years provision.
However, a proposal to open an outdoor nursery in a field next to the village cemetery was withdrawn.
The site is thought to be unsuitable because of a threat of flooding from the River Spey and problems with access.
But officers had already bought two temporary classrooms for £130,000 each.
An investigation into the incident was called for at a meeting of the audit and scrutiny committee on Wednesday.
Councillor Graham Leadbitter (elgin South, SNP) the committee's chairman asked chief auditor Dafydd Lewis to look into the matter.
Several other elected members also voiced their worries.
Assurances were given that a report would come back to the committee in May.
Speaking after the meeting, cllr Leadbitter said: "A number of councillors from different groups have raised concerns over the procedures followed that caused these issues to arise.
"It’s important that a full review of the process is carried out.
"The council’s senior management team have given an assurance that a management review is being undertaken.
"The results of that will be reviewed by the council’s internal auditor and reported back to the committee, where there will be an opportunity for councillors to scrutinise the outcome of that review.
"As with any significant issue like this it is important that lessons are learned and processes improved."
Cllr Derek Ross (Spesyide/Glenlivet, Independent) whose ward includes Aberlour, asked for an investigation into the procurement of the £260,000 temporary classrooms.
He said: "I’m pleased this is going ahead. It is a lot of money.
"It’s not trying to point a finger at anyone. All I want is for the council to learn from what’s happened."
The Aberlour nursery children were to be moved to the temporary accommodation after the Easter holidays until October.
It is not known if a suitable site has been identified.
The latest issue comes after cllr Ross and cllr Juli Harris (Speyside/Glenlivet, SNP) expressed their annoyance that they had not been informed that the nursery children would be moved out.
In November cllr Ross said it seemed as if councillors were having "the wool pulled over their eyes".
At the time officers apologised for a lack of communication, adding that there had been no intention to keep information from councillors.
The refurbishment of Aberlour Primary School nursery is part of the council’s expansion of early years service.
It is to provide 1140 hours of childcare for three- to five-year-olds and eligible two-year-olds.
The project is £3.3million over budget.
Moray Council will have to make around £28million in savings over the next two years to balance its books.
A spokesperson for Moray Council said: "As part of the planned refurbishment and extension of the nursery at Aberlour Primary School, both the council and private provider nurseries require to be temporarily decanted.
"A planning application to develop an outdoor nursery on council-owned land next to the new cemetery in Aberlour was withdrawn in December.
"The application did not include any proposal to site a temporary unit on the land. "Decant options for the nurseries continue to be progressed by officers in discussion with ward members."
