星空传媒

The escalating row over the government鈥檚 decision to scrap the 拢55bn 星空传媒 Schools for the Future programme is to hit the High Court.

A judicial review challenging the decision will be heard in January after Leeds divisional court ruled that a case brought by Luton and Nottingham City councils should be heard by the High Court. The case will be heard alongside those of four other authorities 鈥� Newham, Waltham Forest, Sandwell and Kent.

Luton was left with liabilities totaling 拢3.6m when two of its BSF schools worth 拢45m were cancelled in July weeks away from the start of construction work.

Councillor Tahir Khan, executive member with responsibility for Children鈥檚 Services said: 鈥淟uton Borough Council welcomes this decision as we believe we have a strong case. This legal action was taken reluctantly, and only after having failed to find a way forward from our correspondence with the Department for Education.鈥�

He added: 鈥淲e are not disputing the Secretary of State鈥檚 right to make a decision to withdraw funding for the 星空传媒 Schools for the Future programme but we believe the decision reached was irrational and that our individual circumstances were not taken into account.鈥�

鈥淥ur priority is to protect the interests of our local schools, young people and residents.鈥�