Parents hit out over subsidised transport plan

ENGAGEMENT around controversial proposals to scrap subsidised school transport in East Ayrshire has been criticised by both parents and councillors.

A proposal to end the scheme, which provides cutprice school transport for those pupils who don’t live far enough from their school to be eligible for free transport, was first mooted a year ago.

The scheme is the only one of its type in Scotland and has been cited as a driver for a significant overspend in the council’s school transport budget, with costs in excess of £500k expected.

Councillors, aware of the pushback from parents, chose not to scrap it, instead asking officers to return with more information about alternatives for pupils, including use of free bus passes and active travel routes.

An alternative proposal to end new applications was suggested in June, but cabinet opted to undergo further consultation, more detailed assessments of safe walking routes and ongoing discussions with Stagecoach over direct bus services to schools.

The council’s cabinet has agreed to a three-week pilot scheme, from May 27 to June 14.

The subsidised transport scheme will be paused during that time, with Stagecoach putting on alternative bus routes over that period.

Councillors welcomed the progress being made, but raised their concerns about the communication with parents, a point strongly echoed by parents representative Jackie Livingstone.

Councillor Elaine Cowan said: “I’d like to see more elected member and parental involvement in improving and promoting the recommended walking routes.

“We’re very fortunate to have an active and dedicated parent council network and parent chair steering group.

“We need to build on this with a view to improving engagement and dialogue on strategic issues.

“I think that’s a golden opportunity for us.”

The number of pupils accessing the service has dropped considerably since 2022, although there were slightly more signed up in the current year, than last year.

Depute leader of the Labour group, councillor Barry Douglas, below, asked whether this was a result of the falling school rolls or the introduction of free bus travel for under 25s.

He also questioned some of the walking routes, suggesting that pupils often opted to take different paths.

Laura Campbell, strategic manager transport and fleet maintenance, told Cllr Douglas that the free bus travel was the behind the lower take-up.

She said: “There’s a lot of children opting to use the NEC card and that is where the reduction has come from.”

Ms Campbell added that officers were speaking to pupils around footpaths and safe walking routes and that the summer recess would provide an opportunity to get more feedback.

Councillor Graham Barton acknowledged that the council was moving in the right direction.

However, he also raised concerns about talking to parents and parent councils. He said: “I think we have dropped the ball somewhat in terms of engagement and consultation with parents and parent councils.

“I’ve attended a number of parent council meetings when this has been on the agenda.

“Parents, for the most part, understand the budgetary pressures and the ever increasing costs of providing this subsidised travel and were willing to work ways provide the feedback.

“We didn’t quite get it right in my opinion we need to make sure that we do that going forward.

“I think we as councillors should walk these routes along with our colleagues and representatives in parent councils, so we can get real time feedback.”

Parent representative Jackie Livingston was highly critical of the lack of engagement with parents.

She said: “I just want to say that the communication hasn’t been good at all for for the parents and carers and I’d hope that we have learned some lessons.”

Jackie said that parents should be told what is happening, even if there are details to be firmed up, adding: “Right now, nobody knows what’s going on. The parents’ steering group didn’t know this was coming to cabinet.

“It really puts us in a bad light.”

She also asked that it be made clear that the scheme would not be removed at the start of the next school year in August, to alleviate ‘any fears’ among parents and carers.