Decision details

The following Notice of Motion under Standing Order 13 was before the Community Services Committee for consideration –

 

The Seat Belts on School Transport (Scotland) Act 2017 requires that each passenger seat in vehicles used for dedicated school transportation must be equipped with a seatbelt. Public service buses that also provide school transport require seatbelts, dependent on age, with vehicles designed for urban use (urban buses) exempt from this. 

 

This motion is made in light of the unique hazards of rural roads and the need to ensure the safety and well-being of schoolchildren, and to fulfil the council's responsibility to ensure safe routes to school in Argyll and Bute. 

 

Advice from the School and Public Transport Team, as the Council’s professional advisors in relation to matters of this nature, is that the current arrangements are legally compliant and safe and that Argyll and Bute Council are compliant with all relevant legislation relating to the transporting of school children and the travelling public throughout Argyll and Bute with seatbelts fitted to all dedicated school transport vehicles.

 

Notwithstanding that advice, we believe that urban buses are not suitable for rural routes due to the unique characteristics of rural roads (winding bends, bumpy or uneven surfaces, poor lighting, often high speed limits and lack of seat belts and accessibility to medical care in case of an accident. These characteristics can become particularly challenging in poor weather conditions.

 

For example, as it currently stands, children as young as 4 on the Isle of Seil may be expected to travel on an urban bus with no seatbelts for over three miles from Cuan to get to school in Easdale. The windy island road is poorly lit and uneven, and the speed limit for this journey is the national speed limit 60mph.

 

The use of seat belts on all school transportation is crucial for the safety of children and ensuring safe routes to school. 

 

The Committee is therefore asked to agree officers are requested to submit a paper to them which will identify and detail the costs associated with ensuring all buses commissioned by Argyll and Bute Council for the purposes of transporting children to and from school in Argyll and Bute are required to have seatbelts, and advising how such a requirement could be introduced.

 

Moved by Councillor Math Campbell-Sturgess, seconded by Councillor Dougie McFadzean

 

Amendment

 

To agree to take no action.

 

Moved by Councillor Yvonne McNeilly, seconded by Councillor Julie McKenzie

 

As the meeting was being held on a hybrid basis the vote was required to be taken by taken by calling the roll and Members voted as follows -

 

Motion                                                Amendment

 

Councillor G Blair                            Councillor G Corner

Councillor M Campbell-Sturgess  Councillor A Hampsey

Councillor A Forrest                                    Councillor D Hampsey

Councillor D McFadzean               Councillor G Hardie

Councillor I Paterson                      Councillor A Kain

                                                            Councillor P Kennedy

                                                            Councillor L McCabe

                                                            Councillor J McKenzie

                                                            Councillor Y McNeilly

                                                            Councillor G Penfold

                                                            Reverend S MacPherson

 

The Amendment was carried by 11 votes to 5 and the Committee resolved accordingly.

 

Decision

 

The Committee agreed to take no action.