David Parker has called it ‘utterly ludicrous’ that SBC has to spend £59,000 to satisfy environmental health issues at five school nurseries.
The council leader made the comment at a meeting of the executive committee on Tuesday, when members agreed to the allocation of almost £600,000 to various school and nursery improvement projects in the next financial year.
This includes creating ‘lobbies’ outside toilets in nurseries at Stow, Lilliesleaf, Priorsford, Greenlaw and Coldingham primary schools.
Councillor Parker said: “It is utterly ludicrous that we are having to spend money on that.”
He also asked if there was any way the council could get round doing the work.
However Annette Patterson, asset development manager, said it was the “only compliant solution”.
A council spokesman told The Southern: “It is an environmental health requirement that we need to create ventilated lobbies between the toilet areas and the nursery areas as the nurseries are classed as a food preparation area.”
A total of £370,000 has been allocated for improvements to Westruther Primary School, which will see a new secure entrance and additional dining and classroom space.
Several councillors said this work was particularly welcome.