Cuts to Falkirk school bus transport rejected despite teaching jobs risk warning

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Planned cuts to school bus services in Falkirk have been thrown out by councillors - in a move officials warned would put teaching posts at risk.

Members had been urged to agree to reduce the covered travel distance for school pupils in a bid to save the council more than £1 million, as the local authority faces a budget deficit of £64 million over five years.

Councillors were told the change, which would affect more than 1,600 pupils, was the "least worst" option on the table, and would affect just five per cent of Falkirk's pupils. READ MORE: Fireworks display in Falkirk to go ahead despite £10,000 cost and concerns over noise And they were warned that refusing to accept this cut will inevitably mean teachers, support for learning assistants and social worker jobs are at risk.

Other options to balance the books could be reducing curriculum choice or cutting school hours.A statement from members of the Scottish Youth Parliament spoke about the impact the proposal would have on young people's education, pleading with councillors: "Don't let education be something that young people are unable to access."Their plea was echoed by former St Mungo's pupil Declan McGavin, who shared concerns from his former school.In the face of widespread public opposition the SNP had put forward a compromise motion, suggesting only secondary schools should be affected - reducing the impact but also cutting the potential savings by £500.000.Instead a motion from the Labour group to not go ahead with the proposed cut was backed by the Conservative group and most Independents.The Labour group leader, Councillor Anne Hannah, laid the blame for the council's financial position firmly at the door of the Scottish Government.