COUNCILLORS have agreed to push ahead with plans to create a "super school" in York despite uncertainties over funding, and local people look set to have their say on the future of a closed city school at a public meeting.

City of York Council's approval committee agreed to move immediately to phase two of the work to convert Canon Lee School to extend its capacity from 550 to ultimately 900.

The authority will use its own balances to carry out the work, as officers had told the committee that though a decision had not yet been made on their bid for an additional £1 million of Government cash "a positive response is not anticipated".

As a result councillors agreed to increase the education capital programme by £1.3 million gross to a total of £4.1 million.

Council leader Coun Rod Hills said they clearly needed to do the work, and Liberal Democrat leader Coun Steve Galloway backed that view, though he expressed anxiety that pupils at Canon Lee had not yet returned from their summer holidays due to the ongoing work.

Education director Mike Peters said parents had been warned at the end of last term about the delay, adding: "We anticipate that they should be able to get children in very quickly, certainly by early next week."

The committee also agreed to invite residents from the catchment area of the closed Queen Anne's School to a public meeting at the site to discuss the four bids to buy and convert it.

The current favourite is a £4.8 million one from St Peter's for a solely educational use, partly because the other three bids also involve a housing use for the site which officers fear could lead to traffic problems in the area.

But Government views will also have to be sought because the St Peter's bid is not the highest for the land.

The committee approved a motion from Liberal Democrat Coun Sue Galloway expressing disappointment that the Government had not fully accepted a Royal Commission's findings on long term care which would have meant people being care for at home receiving help with care charges.

It also approved one from Coun Hills welcoming the injection of new Government cash into the NHS.