SCHOOLS will be able to borrow from a council, under a loans scheme agree today (Wednesday, September 16).

Durham County Council’s Labour cabinet backed proposals to send up a lending scheme aimed at helping schools make building improvements, improve energy efficiency and buy new furniture and equipment.

The loans will be available to all the county’s maintained schools, including nursery, primary, secondary, special and the Pupil Referral Unit.

Councillor Ossie Johnson, the cabinet member for children and young people’s services, said the money would give schools the flexibility to develop initiatives and spread the costs over several years.

A similar scheme was axed in 2013 over concerns the council would have to repay the loans if schools converted to academies.

Cllr Johnson said the appropriate risk assessments had been undertaken for the new initiative.

Liberal Democrat Mark Wilkes said the scheme was a result of Liberal Democrat proposals rejected by Labour in March.

The scheme will come into effect from October 1.