The amount of money paid by housing developers in Aberdeen towards local schools could be cut significantly under proposals being discussed today.
Officials at the city council are recommending a reduction in contributions from £44,000 to £30,000 per pupil for new secondary schools.
Housing firms are routinely asked to support the cost of education facilities, as well as road and transport improvements required for new developments.
For a major residential planning application, the difference of £14,000 per pupil could mean the council misses out on hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Members of the local authority’s enterprise, strategic planning and infrastructure (ESP&I) committee will discuss a report detailing the proposals at a meeting later today.
The changes are contained within draft supplementary guidance, which is used as a yardstick for legal negotiations with developers.
Angela Taylor, deputy Labour group leader and vice-convener of ESP&I, said she was seeking clarity on the plans.
She said: “I don’t think this would prevent us from continuing with developments, but I have asked for a more detailed explanation from our officers.
“Of course, education is one of this administration’s top priorities, and we want to do everything we can to maximise the contributions.”
Calculations for developer contributions are made in respect of the number of new pupils a housing scheme is expected to generate.
Under the current guidance, contributions are sought when a secondary school is forecast to exceed 90% of its maximum capacity. A formula is based on a prediction for the number of pupils per household.
In a report to the committee, planning official Louise MacSween says the level for secondary schools is being revised to reflect the cost of building new academies.
The report adds: “Officers from education, culture and sport will continue to monitor the contribution rates for both secondary and primary pupils to ensure that the rates being used within the revised supplementary guidance remain at satisfactory levels.
“Comparisons will be made with the construction cost of future primary school projects and the new academy in the south of the city.”
Plans for the £30million new secondary school at Bobby Calder Park, Cove, were rubber-stamped by councillors in September last year.