School site sell-off row

Brighton and Hove City Council's Green councillors say the sale is needed to pay Jarvis, which could impose an estimated £17 million penalty on the council when East Brighton College of Media Arts (Comart) is closed.

Jarvis was given a 25-year private finance initiative contract to refurbish and run four schools two years ago, when Comart's future still looked reasonable.

The contract for Comart was cut short when the council's children, families and schools sub-committee voted earlier this month to make formal proposals to close the school.

The council's Green Party group said Jarvis could impose the penalty on the council if Comart closed and said the cash-strapped authority had no money to meet the debts, as it was already facing a £14 million central government funding cut next year.

Coun Richard Mallender, Green education spokesman, said: "It is a scandal the council is considering selling off land to pay the penalties imposed by Jarvis.

"I know the council's valuers have been updating sale value estimates in the past few weeks.

"One of the main reasons this school is unviable is because Labour made it into a media college against local wishes and secured its redevelopment under a 25-year private finance initiative.

"Now they are blaming its closure on parents for not sending their kids there.

"Closing the secondary school in the heart of Whitehawk while £49 million of regeneration money is being poured into the area is a kick in the teeth for locals.

"All this time there are computer suites, special dance studios and other facilities lying unused."

Kevin Dale, of the Local Education Action Group, said: "That the council is considering selling the land to pay Jarvis is an outrage.

"It is trying to make the council tax payer pay for its dreadful mistake."

Schools councillor Pat Hawkes has denied the accusations.

Coun Hawkes said: "There is no land being sold off. We hope eventually to have some sort of vocational centre there."