Issue - meetings

(i)            to approve recommendation (i) and (iv) as contained in the report;

(ii)          in order to support the transition to the new school, to approve Option 2a as detailed in the report with the addition of the provision of a supported bus service between Cove and Lochside Academy with pupils paying a fare to use the service to take effect from August 2018 and initially for a period of 3 years subject to approval of appropriate funding by the Finance, Policy and Resources Committee and to instruct the Interim Head of Planning and Sustainable Development to report to the appropriate Committee on the proposed fare to be paid by pupils from Cove for approval;

(iii)         to note the concerns of parents from Torry, Kincorth and Cove expressed at the consultation meetings about the safety of pupils leaving service buses at stops on Wellington Road rather than on the quieter Wellington Circle and therefore instructs the Interim Head of Planning and Sustainable Development to discuss such adjustments to the routes of service buses 3/3G, 18 and the new supported public services detailed in (iv) below as were necessary to ensure that Lochside Academy pupils were dropped off on Wellington Circle (or in the schools grounds if appropriate) at the start of the school day and picked up from Wellington Circle (or in the schools grounds if appropriate) at the end of the normal school day and to report back on the outcome of those discussions to the appropriate Committee;

(iv)         subject to approval of the required funding of amended Option 2a as detailed in (ii) above by the Finance, Policy and Resources Committee to (1) approve the total estimated expenditure per annum (as detailed in the exempt appendix as amended to include the costs of the supported bus service between Cove and Lochside Academy) for a period of 3 years as detailed in the report (2) delegate authority to the Interim Head of Planning and Sustainable Development following consultation with the Head of Commercial and Procurement Services, to undertake a tender process for the procurement and thereafter award for the delivery of a supported bus service to operate between Deeside Brae, Leggart, Balnagask and Lochside Academy from August 2018 and (3) delegate authority to the Head of Commercial and Procurement Services to conclude a contract with the successful bidder;

(v)          to note the concerns expressed by Cove parents during the consultation meetings about the safety of the identified safe routes to school for the approximately 265 Cove Lochside Academy pupils;

(vi)         to instruct the Head of Public Infrastructure and Environment to carry out a study and option appraisal and budget analysis for the following measures in respect of safe walking routes to school for pupils residing in Coveand to report the outcome to the appropriate Committee to ensure that these works, if approved, were implemented prior to the opening of Lochside Academy:

(a)  Puffin crossing at an estimated cost of £30-35k[1] on Cove Road to  ...  view the full decision text for item 10

In accordance with article 4 of this minute, the Committee heard the following deputations:

(A)         The Committee received a deputation from Ms Lesley-Anne Yeats, Walker Road Parent Council.

Ms Yeats advised of the Walker Road Parent Council’s participation to date in the consultation events regarding the school and that throughout this period they had continuously campaigned for it to be recognised that from their view the only safe route to Lochside Academy from Torry was free, dedicated transport.

She referred to Section 51 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 which stated “make arrangements for the provision of school transport for pupils attending their schools and to have regard to the safety of those pupils” and therefore the Parent Council was of the view that the Council had a duty of care to provide free transport from Torry to Lochside Academy.

She went on to advise of their concerns regarding the safety ofthe proposed safe walking route from Torry and advised that in order to address these concerns, the Parent Council wished the Committee to:

1.            Approve Free Transport to Lochside Academy from Torry;

2.            Request amendments to further investigate that free bus provision whether it be through:

a)        a dedicated service; or

b)        fully supported service picking up all Torry children within the community and dropping off within the school grounds; and

3.            Request an amendment to further investigate available funding to ensure the accessibility of the school and community facilities outwith the proposed recommended 7am-6pm bus pass provision.

(B)       The Committee received a deputation from by Ms Julie Pose, Chair of the Charleston Primary School Parent Council.

Ms Pose advised of concerns regarding the safety of the proposed walking route to the new Academy from Cove, advising that she did not consider that a reasonable or safe walking route had been identified.  In particular she highlighted the concerns the Parent Council had for pupils crossing the dual carriageway and stated that they did not accept that the central reservations available were sufficient.  In this regard she referred to the safe walking and cycling route which was agreed by the Planning Development Management Committee in 2015, wherein the addition of a toucan crossing on Wellington Road was agreed, including the said route along the A956 dual carriageway along which there were no safety barriers other than at the Sainsbury's junction.  She did not believe that this was either reasonable or safe as a designated safe route for children to walk or cycle along at any time.  She also highlighted that Cove children would need to cross a crossing which did not currently exist and therefore had not been tested as fit for purpose and walk along the A956 which had no safety barriers along its entire length other than at its junctions.  Therefore, she felt that Cove parents would have to hope that the route would be safe for their children and she did not believe that this was acceptable.

She then referred to Section 3.3.6 of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10