A POLITICAL row has broken out over how to spend £400,000 saved from Blackburn with Darwen Council’s education budget.

Tory group leader Mike Lee wants it ploughed back into the borough’s schools.

But the council’s Labour education boss, Dave Harling, has told him it has to go into the drive to save another £31million between 2015 and 2018.

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He has been backed by borough finance boss Andy Kay who said government cuts in Whitehall grants, which had seen £70million taken out of the authority’s budget since 2010 left no room to reinvest the saving.

Coun Harling revealed to last week’s borough executive board that his portfolio was currently heading to spend less than its cash allocation.

He said: “Following a detailed review of all budget headings, it is anticipating estimated savings of approximately £400,901.

“These savings have arisen due to a number of posts that are currently vacant within the portfolio and savings that have been identified in advance of their planned delivery in 2015/2016.”

Coun Lee told him: “I am concerned that we have some school in special measures and yet we have £400,000 left in the education budget.

“We should be using that money to raise standards, not just putting it in the pot.”

Coun Harling said: “We need to put that money into the savings we have to make because of your government.

“I can assure you that these savings will not affect standards in our schools in any way.”

Coun Kay said: “If you want to reinvest savings in services, Coun Lee, you should speak to your local government secretary Eric Pickles about the scale of grant cuts that are being imposed on this council. We have no choice.”

Coun Lee said after the meeting: “This money should be spent on schools.

“Investing in schools is investing in our children’s future and in the future of the borough.

“Education is vital.”