At the full council meeting on Thursday, November 6, the Labour group tried to unite the whole council by requesting the full council to confirm its commitment to the Building Schools for the 21st Century programme.

This is a government policy that provides a direct grant from government to the council which enables the local authority to carry out a major school building programme, providing future generations with modern buildings and ICT facilities.

Furthermore, the motion that was proposed by [me] requested that the council not only confirmed its commitment to Hillingdon's participation in the current scheme, which provides £150million to rebuild schools in the south of the borough, but also called on the council to negotiate with the Government in order to bring a similar investment from the Government forward for the north of the borough.

The motion was defeated by the Tories using their huge majority in the council chamber.

The original public consultation on the council's BS21 proposals was due to be launched in the first week of September 2008, but it has been delayed by the Council's need to go into periods of 'purdah' due to recent council by-elections.

Councillor Anita McDonald, Labour's education and children's services lead, made the following comments after the meeting.

"After the unavoidable delays caused by the recent by-elections, we felt that it was important to show that the whole council is united in its commitment to ensure that these delays do not derail the current BS21 programme for the south of the borough.

"We also think that the council could make a good case to pursue the Government to bring plans for the north of the borough forward, so that the whole borough would benefit.

"Tonight's vote proves that the Tory administration do not share our commitment to education in the borough."

COUNCILLOR PETER CURLING, (LAB, CHARVILLE),

Civic Centre,

High Street, Uxbridge.