£250,000 smart meter roll-out aims to cut schools' energy use

COUNCIL chiefs are to press ahead with the roll-out of smart meters in schools in an attempt to cut down on energy costs.

Education leader Marilyne MacLaren has acknowledged that "low temperatures over the winter have caused problems in some schools" and said action had been taken to help any schools that had a deficit in their energy budgets.

The Evening News revealed last month that the council had pledged to give headteachers an extra 571,000 to help them pay their energy bills after some struggled to pay.

Cllr MacLaren said a 250,000 roll-out of smart meters will continue, which will help schools cut both energy costs and carbon emissions.

In a motion approved at this week's meeting of the children and families department, Cllr MacLaren said: "A further review of energy consumption and temperature settings in schools has been instructed by the children and families department in order to reduce energy consumption and target improvement measures where they can deliver most benefit."