Today was the day we visited the offices of Scottish Futures Trust in Edinburgh.  There were four of us from Moray and we met with representatives from SFT and the Scottish Government.  The Scottish Futures trust is co-ordinating the public sector building programmes.  It was our opportunity to outline the thinking behind the plans for the new Elgin High School building.  We were able to outline both our aspirations as well as some of the technical issues.  We were given a good hearing and it was very encouraging to see that our thinking is very much in line with the Scotland’s Schools for the Future Programme.  We are on target to achieve the aims of the programme for the EHS community.  Our audience was very supportive of the proposals.  Of course the subject of “ESA 10” was raised.  While there was much sympathy, it is also clear that the issues surrounding this are going to take weeks and not days to be resolved.  However, it was reassuring to learn that considerable effort is being put into finding a resolution.  As soon as this is done, we will be able to move forward.  Keep watching this blog for more information!

The Press and Journal’s headline on Wednesday described the new build project as “being in limbo”.  The positive news is that on Tuesday The Moray Council has agreed their side of the necessary funding.  A solution is in sight to overcome the difficulties about planning permission relating to the disposal of the peat.  Work on the construction of the extension of Edgar Road past Greenwards Primary has been given the green light and should start on Monday.  Those are the positives.

The negative news is that we will not be able to go to financial closure in June.  The problem over “ESA 10” – financial regulation requiring agreement between the Scottish and UK governments and the European Union – is not going to be resolved quickly.  This is not an EHS problem and it is also having an impact on a number of other public sector projects across Scotland.  At the earliest there might be progress is by the end of the summer holidays.  This obviously means a delay in the start of the project and consequently in the completion date.

To describe the reaction to the delay as “disappointing” is an understatement.  The Parent Council met on Wednesday and expressed the frustration of parents, pupils and the community at large.  This feeling is equally shared by staff who have already started the preparation work of clearing departments.  The Moray Council staff working on the planning, and Balfour Beatty, are equally frustrated after all the work that has gone into getting ready for a June start to work.  Next Wednesday a team from Moray will be in Edinburgh giving a presentation on the aspirations for the new build to the Scottish Futures Trust and Scottish Government representatives.  We will be listening out for any positive news of developments.

Friday’s Northern Scot carried the news that there are further potential delays to the starting date for the new build.  There is little to add to what was reported in the newspaper.  There is a meeting scheduled on Tuesday for Moray councillors at which they will be given an update.  There is still hope that a way can be found to get round the various difficulties and more positive news can be announced soon.  Meanwhile, some folk have arrived to do another survey on the grounds.  The planning and preparations are continuing so hopefully we will have good news soon!