SLC hit back at critics

South Lanarkshire council say they can no longer afford to provide school bus provision that is more generous than the statutory amount.

In a statement released after last week’s executive committee, head of education, Jim Gilhooly, said:“The council understands that the proposals mean some parents will need to change the way they fulfil their responsibility to get their children to and from school.

“Proposals being put to Executive Committee councillors for consideration on 26 August reflect concerns raised by parents at consultation sessions undertaken in line with statutory requirements.

“Amendments to transport proposals approved by the council in February now seek to delay the implementation date until April, 18, 2016.

“It is further proposed that all secondary pupils entitled to free school meals who live more than two miles from their school can access free school transport.

“By seeking to move to providing free secondary school transport after three miles, we would be in line with 19 other local authorities in Scotland who have already adopted this statutory limit.

“If the new three miles statutory limit is approved, we will learn from the experiences of these councils.

“The council has significant savings to make, meaning that there are difficult decisions to take. As such, these proposals have not been made lightly.

“The council remains of the view that it can no longer afford to provide secondary school mainstream transport at a level that is more generous than required under the Education (Scotland) Act 1980.”