A total of £2.5m for financial year 2015-16 was this week approved by councillors at a meeting of Aberdeenshire Council’s Policy and Resources Committee.

In addition a provisional £7m programme for the following two years was also presented to elected members. Some of these projects could be brought forward if there is any slippage to the ones planned for this year.

The Maintenance Strategy includes the aim to:

• Upgrade electrical services which will reduce energy consumption

• Improve toilets

Once all the school maintenance projects planned over the next three years have been completed the council will have succeeded in raising the Scottish Government condition grade of almost all its schools to A (Good) or B (Satisfactory).

Among the 20 projects scheduled for this year is a new access road for Tarlair Outdoor Swimming Pool, an upgrade to the All Weather Pitch at Catto Park, upgrade to the playground at Balmedie Primary School and a new filtration plant at Huntly Swimming Pool.

This expenditure complements programmes that are funded by other lines in the Capital Plan including school enhancements, new secondary schools in Alford, Ellon and Mearns and improved disabled access to educational facilities. In addition there is a Central Energy Efficiency Fund (CEEF) budget which is used to fund energy efficiency projects.