An MSP has written to a local authority asking for parents to be included in an official council working group to address concerns about school transportation provision.
North Lanarkshire Council recently agreed to establish a working group to review the policies for vetting school transportation and walking routes.
This followed months of protest from parents who argued that children were walking unsafe routes to school and a start to the school year marked by confusion and challenges for parents and local bus service providers.
The working group comprises ten councillors, and its first meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, 13 November.
Gillian Mackay, Scottish Green Party MSP for Central Scotland, and local councillor Claire Williams wrote to North Lanarkshire Council to ask that parents be given some form of official representation in the working group.
"As you'll be aware from the protests outside the Civic Centre and the significant media coverage, the situation is causing concern for many parents and families across the local authority.
"Both our inboxes have been inundated with correspondence in relation to the proposed cuts and the impacts that may have on families and children.
"We believe that schools and local authorities should support and encourage parent councils to be involved in school improvement discussions, plans, implementation and evaluation.
"This would be an excellent opportunity to put that into action."
Local parents have been calling for direct involvement since the council first announced its intentions to restrict eligibility for school transport, bringing it in line with national guidance.
The working group's official role will be to review transportation policies and eligibility criteria and report to the education committee in February, in time for any changes to take effect before the council proceeds with planned changes to primary school bus provision in August 2025.
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Councillor Tray Carragher, leader of the North Lanarkshire Council SNP Group which tabled the motion to establish the working group, said that she has been in conversation with parent groups and will raise the question of parental involvement at the working group's first meeting.
"Following the successful SNP motion to full council, I updated campaign and parent council groups on next steps.
"I confirmed the terms of reference for the member/officer working group will be agreed by members at its first meeting. These terms of reference will include who the group consults with and any guest speakers. I confirmed my intention to propose representation from parent council and campaign groups to ensure their views are considered.
"Their sustained efforts have been instrumental in ensuring criteria for safe walking routes to schools is updated."
A spokesperson for North Lanarkshire Council confirmed that any additional members of the working group would be decided as part of the group's terms of reference.
"The purpose of this group is to thoroughly review and update the criteria used to assess the acceptability of walking routes to ensure it is flexible enough to take into account factors, relative to the nature of the route, ensuring at all times child safety is placed as the number one priority.
"Any additional members of the group will be considered as part of its terms of reference."
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