by political editor Paul Francis

pfrancis@thekmgroup.co.uk

Schools in Kent have racked up a staggering £113
million backlog of maintenance and repair work, it emerged
today.

Of the £113m that needs to be spent on maintenance such as
leaking roofs, boiler repairs and the replacement of doors and
windows, an estimated £17m has been classified by education chiefs
as being urgent.

And Kent County Council is warning the backlog at its 574
schools may grow because of the cancellation or postponement of
school building projects as the public sector spending squeeze
hits.

The scale of the problem confronting schools is disclosed in a
report due to be presented to county councillors this week.

It shows that KCC expects to spend £14m on maintenance and
repairs this year - £4m than it had budgeted for.

The 35 per cent increase is being attributed to the need to
carry out more unplanned maintenance work.

KCC had allocated £2.4m for this but unexpected repairs needed
at some schools mean that will soar to £5.8m.

Of the £98.7m backlog for its schools, KCC estimates £21.9m is
needed to repair roofs, £24.5m for heating repairs, £13m for
electrical repairs and more than £18.3m on doors and windows.

Schools which have become academies and are no longer part of
KCC are estimated to have a £15m backlog of repairs.

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In the report, education chiefs say that over recent years "the
balance between planned and reactive work has shifted with more now
responding to urgent requirements."

The report says spending on maintenance will come under pressure
owing to cuts.

"Reduction in future levels of capital investment will reduce
the number of whole school replacement and modernisation projects
that can be undertaken and with them our ability to continue to
make further significant reductions of the... maintenance backlog
over the medium term."

Cllr Gary
Cooke, KCC deputy cabinet member education, said the council was
doing what it could to tackle the backlog and that he hoped more
money would be available next year.

"We have been put back by the [cancellation] of the Building
Schools for the Future programme.

"That has hindered us but we are picking up things where we
can.

"The money that we do have will be directed to our most urgent
work and we will maintain all schools so that they are safe and
secure for our children.

"We are making schools where the work is most urgent our top
priority."