by Alan Quick

CREDITON Rural County Councillor Nick Way has written to the chair of governors and head teacher at Hayward’s Primary School concerning Devon County Council’s cabinets recent decision to propose a “client-pays” model and finding a third party service provider to manage the delivery of school crossing patrol staff in the county.

Cllr Way said it was a “decision we had feared, to stop the funding of all salaried school crossing patrol staff.”

He added that the Liberal Democrats group, of which he is a member, “has immediately ‘called in’ their decision to the scrutiny committee and we will be examining it in detail.”

He continued: “Knowing the great importance of the Hayward’s crossing patrol service needless to say I will be doing all I can to convince them to re-think there decision.”

The county’s LibDems say there is an alternative which will keep the “lollipop” school crossing patrols. They have put forward a new funding plan which was due to be debated yesterday (Thursday, February 18), when the council meets to set its budget for the 12 months from April.

"The Government has given Devon an extra £8.4 million pounds to help ease pressures across the county and we believe £250,000 of that can be used next year to keep the school crossing patrol service," explained Cllr Alan Connett, leader of the Liberal Democrats at County Hall.

"Looking ahead, we believe savings can be made from the near £2 million the Conservatives plan to spend on advertising, public relations and media spin in the next 12 months.

"There is no need for the Conservatives to rush ahead and stop funding the ‘lollipop’ crossing patrols, which help keep children safe. We have shown there is an alternative - if there is the political will in County Hall to protect children on their way to and from school," added Cllr Connett.

The Liberal Democrats also want to see more of the extra Government money put into repairing Devon’s roads and tackling drainage and gulley issues which have been a big concern to local communities again this year with the heavy rain.

"We know there is a big pressure on the council budget, but we believe we can fund an extra £750,000 for safety defects and drainage issues. The Conservatives plan to put £1 million towards this - an extra £750,000 will mean much more work could be achieved," continued Cllr Connett.

"Our budget amendments are affordable and achievable - but what is more important is that we can keep the school crossing patrol service without pushing the burden onto local schools, which is what the Conservatives want to do."