West Lothian Council Calls for Scottish Government Funding for School Transport

West Lothian Council is looking into ways to cut down on the £7 million spent annually on school transport, with a councillor suggesting the Scottish Government should cover these costs.

West Lothian Council is facing a significant financial challenge with its annual school transport bill, which has reached £7 million. This substantial cost has sparked a debate about who should bear the financial burden and how to make the system more efficient.

The council has been providing free school transport to more than 6,000 mainstream pupils, costing £1,245 per pupil in the last year. This figure exceeds the target cost of £1,052 per pupil by almost £200. Conservative councillor Alison Adamson has been vocal about the need for the Scottish Government to take on this financial responsibility, arguing that teenagers already receive free bus passes for public transport.

Councillor’s Call for Government Intervention

At a recent meeting of the Environment and Sustainability PDSP, Councillor Adamson questioned why the council was responsible for transporting pupils when the Scottish Government provides free bus passes. She emphasized that the council’s statutory obligation to provide school transport for pupils living beyond the qualifying distance could be addressed more cost-effectively.

“I’m assuming this is just mainstream pupils. Is this a statutory requirement that the council faces for school transport for these people?” Councillor Adamson asked. She further inquired about the potential savings if pupils used their free bus passes, stating, “I know there would be enormous savings. Obviously, it’s not going to work for everyone, but has there been any further forward information about how we can cut back on the costs?”

Councillor Adamson reiterated her belief that the Scottish Government should cover the costs, as it already provides bus fares for teenagers. “That money for transporting pupils should come from the Scottish Government,” she asserted.

Statutory Responsibilities and Current Policies

Under the Education (Scotland) Act 1980, West Lothian Council has a statutory responsibility to provide school transport for pupils living over the qualifying distance. The statutory walking distance is two miles for pupils under the age of eight and three miles for other pupils attending their catchment school. However, the council has adopted a more generous policy, providing transport for secondary pupils living two or more miles from their catchment school and 1.5 miles for primary pupils.

The council’s public transport manager, Nicola Gill, informed the meeting that around 4,000 mainstream pupils currently use the provided buses. She noted that a recent survey of local authorities showed West Lothian’s costs were around the national average. Gill also mentioned that the council is reviewing sustainable transport costs and will present a paper to the committee later this year.

“We are going to do a review of sustainable transport costs. I know there has been some work done. There would be some savings, but I would have to say they won’t be enormous,” Gill stated. She emphasized the council’s commitment to exploring cost-effective solutions.

Exploring Alternative Solutions

The council is currently examining ‘crossover’ areas where normal public transport could serve as a suitable alternative to dedicated school buses. However, the “use the bus pass” option is not as straightforward as it might seem. While commercial bus routes may exist, they may not provide sufficient connections to meet the council’s statutory obligations for school transport.

A council spokesperson explained that although commercial bus routes may be available, they might not offer the necessary connections to fulfill the council’s statutory obligations. This complexity highlights the challenges in finding a simple solution to reduce transport costs.

As West Lothian Council continues to explore ways to manage the £7 million school transport bill, the debate over who should bear the financial responsibility and how to optimize the system remains a critical issue for the community.