£1.2m a year for £66m backlog of school repairs

MEMBERS of Neath Port Talbot Council have heard how backlog maintenance costs of around £66 million are currently required for work on the county borough’s schools.

- LEWIS SMITH Local democracy reporter

The report was given at an education skills and wellbeing scrutiny committee where council bosses were updated on the condition of the education estate across Neath Port Talbot as well as the associated backlog maintenance.

It noted that as of 2023 there was a total backlog maintenance of around £66 million in schools across the borough with a capital financial allocation of only £1.2 million set aside each year to tackle the issues.

It added that overall there were 44 schools in category C which means they would require “major repairs” in the next three years.

These consisted of 41 primary schools and three secondary schools.