SCHOOLS are being deprived of more than £400,000 earmarked for improving facilities, according to a concerned councillor.

Brent Council has collected the money from developers as a 'planning gain' contribution but it has yet to spend the money to improve facilities.

Cllr Paul Lorber, leader of the Liberal Democrats, has condemned the council's inaction.

He said the council received £291,000 in respect of the Century Tavern development, £124,000 for the Wasps Rugby Ground and another £16,000 for Gauntlett Court Section 106 contributions from housing developers to ensure schools can cope with the extra demands placed upon them by providing investment for improvements.

Cllr Lorber said a number of schools desperately need this cash, including three in Wembley.

Barham Primary School, in Danethorpe Road, has waited 17 years for the council to modernise the school and provide a new sports hall and kitchen.

A new nursery classroom is needed at Park Lane Primary, in Park Lane. "The council agreed to carry out a feasibility study in October 2000 but more than a year later the school is still waiting," said Cllr Lorber.

Byron Court Primary, in Spencer Road, meanwhile, is hoping for either a nursery, a computer suite or a modern dining hall.

Recently, the council courted controversy after extracting £5,000 from Barham Oakington Manor and Queens Park Schools as 'planning gains' contributions for modernisation projects.

"The council is quick to extract money, it should be equally quick to invest available money on worthwhile projects," he added.

A council spokesman said: "It is council's policy that Section 106 money allocated to education is used to increase school capacity. The council is monitoring pupil predictions to ascertain where this section 106 money is most needed to increase capacity."

By.Rachel Clarke