The hiring of a luxury hotel in Fife for a headteachers conference “beggars belief”, a local councillor has said.
Levenmouth Labour councillor Colin Davidson said Fife Council’s education service owed the public an explanation for its decision to host the two-day conference at the Old Manor Hotel in Lundin Links.
The gathering, on Thursday and Friday, comes as the local authority attempts to balance its books amid further budget cuts.
Mr Davidson said hiring the retreat was inexcusable and labelled the event a “junket”.
He said: “The public and elected members deserve answers.
“Why are we doing this while we are making millions in cuts?
“It beggars belief.
“It’s a junket and needs to be pointed out as a junket”.
Yesterday is not the first time Fife Council has been criticised for hiring the luxury hotel.
In 2013, 10 teachers and two education officers stayed at the Old Manor for “professional development sessions”.
Mr Davidson added: “There are a lot of buildings in the Fife Council estate that are suitable where people can host meetings.
“There is no reason why this event could not take place there.”
Earlier this month, council co-leader David Alexander said further cuts to the education budget were likely in Fife as the local authority attempts to save £29 million to balance its books.
Fife Council insisted no headteachers or staff members were staying at the resort overnight and said the price of catering at its own facilities made it a cost-effective option.
Shelagh McLean, head of education and children’s services for the region, said: “These are programmed engagement days that are an important element of our leadership development strategy for our headteachers.
“We use this particular hotel for some large scale events and importantly when it proves to be better value for money than the cost of using council facilities.
“No attendees are staying overnight, as each headteacher will only attend one of the two sessions.”
