Nottingham presses Gove for BSF verdict
A final decision on Building Schools for the Future (BSF) funding is being sought by Nottingham City Council.
The council said it has instructed its solicitor to chase the Department for Education for a final call on whether it will receive any of the axed investment.
Nottingham was one of six councils which challenged the ruling made by education secretary Michael Gove to axe the BSF funding earlier this year. They won the right to have their applications freviewed in March.
On 19 July the council said it received a letter from Gove which indicated "that he is minded not to fund" any of Nottingham's £79m-worth of BSF projects.
The letter invited the council to make further representation by 19 August before the secretary of state made his final decision.
Since then, the council said it has heard nothing further indicating when a verdict will be given.
Councillor David Mellen, Nottingham City Council's portfolio holder for children's services, said: "It is important that finality is reached in relation to the BSF funding as soon as possible so that we fully understand our position in relation to those schools which were due to be refurbished.
"I hope that the proposed decision is not reflected in Mr Gove's final decision and that he fully considers all of the information we have supplied about Nottingham's case."
