Governors at a Kendal school caught up in a funding tussle claim they are still waiting for key legal information, which could resolve the dispute.

Kirkbie Kendal School accused Cumbria County Council's education bosses of unreasonable behaviour after the school's funds were cut by £15,000 amid claims that the school was being double-funded to use nearby Kendal Leisure Centre.

CCC believes the school must pay for its use of the leisure centre's sports hall while KKS governors argue that it has already

bought access to the centre by donating £150,000 to the leisure centre when it was first built in 1979.

As previously reported, CCC resolved to seek further legal advice after the Department for Education and Skills failed to support the authority's decision to deduct funds from Kirkbie Kendal's budget.

But this week a CCC spokesman said the authority was still looking into the matter and was not yet in a position to provide any further information.

l Council land in High Bentham could soon become a hive of activity for junior soccer matches after councillors agreed to give the go-ahead for a 25-year-lease. Craven District Council sanctioned the handing over of land at Wenning Avenue for lease by Bentham Playing Fields Association at a recent meeting.

February 7, 2003 11:31