Council's 'crazy decision' is an 'abdication of responsibility'

School Crossing Patroller

A council proposal meaning schools will be forced to choose between pupil safety or their quality of education has been called "crazy" and an "abdication of responsibility".

Teachers and governors have reacted with fury over a council proposal to force schools to meet the costs of school crossing patrols.

Currently, the Council meets this cost and local Lib Dem leader Councillor Kelly maintains that meeting the £4,533 a year cost, per patrol, should remain the responsibility of the Council. Many schools in the Borough also have more than one school crossing patrol.

Councillor Kelly said: "This is just another example of poor decision making and lack of prioritising at the Council. By trying to force schools to pay for these patrols, the Council is showing a scant regard for the safety of our young people and putting headteachers and governors in an impossible situation.

"Our schools have already suffered huge cuts but what do they do? Use money from an already over stretched budget or make cuts in other areas like staffing or other resources?

"It's not acceptable and sends out the wrong message.

"Everyone appreciates that budgets are tight both in schools and in our council. They have the wrong priorities though. For example, they have not even considered cutting councillors'  allowances. They continue to maintain 'non-jobs' for their councillors like 'Assistant Cabinet Members', who are frankly useless and a waste of money."

One chairman of governors, who did not want to be named, said: "A whole community is safer as a result of crossing patrols, not just an individual school’s pupils.

"It is our belief that this should remain a council service and not a school service. Our schools simply cannot afford to fund this service and continue to offer the high standards of education which our young people are entitled to and deserve."

Councillor Kelly now plans to raise the matter at the next meeting of Rochdale Borough Council and has raised it with road safety charity 'Brake'.

Councillor Kelly said: "I know that schools across the Borough have worked hard to minimise the cost of school crossing patrols. For example, many schools share patrols with others. For the Council to try and force them to meet the full cost of these patrols is an abdication of responsibility.

"I am calling for the Council to look at saving money in other ways, starting with themselves.

"'Brake' tell me they have their Road Safety Week from 21 - 27 November. It would be great to send a clear message that safety is a priority of the Council by reversing this crazy, ill-informed decision by then."

Council leader Richard Farnell said: "No decision has been made. It is a proposal out to consultation."