Councillor welcomes school bus decision

May 26 2011 by Leona Greenan, Hamilton Advertiser

PROPOSALS to remove free school transport for secondary pupils in North Lanarkshire look set to be scrapped.

It is believed councillors will approve a decision to abandon the plan at the next full council meeting to be held on Thursday, June 30.

In September last year, the council revealed a package of budget savings options, in a 16-page booklet, aimed at saving a minimum of £55 million over the next two years.

It was thought that a reduction in free school bus runs, for pupils living within three miles of their school, would help save them around £1million.

However, the proposal was met with disapproval in September last year when members of the public voiced their concerns during the Hard Choices, Big Decisions public consultation period.

Motherwell West Councillor Paul Kelly welcomed the news this week. He told the Advertiser: “I was very pleased that we have decided to keep free transport for secondary pupils. In the council’s consultation the local community made it clear how important a service this is for our young people.

“I am glad when I raised the concerns and the matter with my Labour colleagues that we all decided to make sure the service was continued.

“I think the community understands the difficult choices facing local councils due to Westminster and Holyrood cuts to the budgets, but I think this action indicates that North Lanarkshire Council will always listen to the community when making decisions.”

A spokesman for North Lanarkshire Council added: “The administration have informed the chief executive that they do not intend to pursue the savings option around the reduction in school transport mileage limits.

“This decision has still to be approved by the council. The £1million saving can be met this year from the budget surplus achieved in 2010-11.

“However, the maintenance of these mileage limits in future years will rely on appropriate funding being made available by the Scottish Government and will not be determined until we are given details of the settlement for 2012-13 later this year.”

Had the plan been given the go-ahead, the reduction of free transport would have been implemented from August this year.