A summary equality impact assessment
What is the policy/strategy/function/saving trying to achieve do?
Assist the council in meeting its statutory responsibility to deliver services within a balanced budget and in line with the ambitions of The Plan for North Lanarkshire. Ensure the continuation of statutory levels of home to school transport provision. Encourage families to adopt more active travel options.
If this is a budget saving, how will the saving be achieved?
The approach will reduce the current demand for mainstream transport by up to one third by bringing eligibility criteria into line with statutory requirements and those of most other local authorities.
The current position in North Lanarkshire Council is more generous through the application of discretionary criteria. Removing these criteria will reduce the number of external transport contracts required for schools and the associated cost.
The approach would also limit the council’s exposure to a significantly increased cost trend caused by volatility in the external transport market.
The approach is expected to yield around £3.6 million in savings based on current costs and inflationary trends.
Who are the stakeholders and beneficiaries?
Schools, children, young people, parents, carers and families, internal fleet operations, external transport providers, Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT); religious groups, ECF Contracts Team, ECF Active Travel Team, NLC Legal Team, NLC Roads Team.
What current data, consultation, research and other evidence or information is available relevant to this assessment?
Section 51 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 requires authorities to plan as they consider necessary for the provision of free school transport. The current statutory provision defined in Section 42(4) of the 1980 Act states those children under the age of 8 years and that live more than 2 miles from their catchment school, and all those over 8 years and who live more than 3 miles from their catchment school will be entitled to free school transport.
North Lanarkshire Council has provided an enhanced service until now for all children in attendance at their primary catchment school who live more than one mile from school, and secondary children and young people who live more than two miles from their catchment school. It is no longer sustainable for North Lanarkshire Council to continue to provide this enhanced service provision which has been in place for several years. However, it will still be the case that all children in attendance at their catchment primary and who live more than 2 miles from their school will be entitled to free school transport and not only those under the age of 8 years as per the current statutory recommendations.
Parents remain responsible for their child's journey to and from school or, where the authority is providing school transport (either through a dedicated service or local bus service), between home and the designated pick-up/drop-off point.
There will be instances where authorities conclude that the route a pupil, or group of pupils, would have to walk to school, accompanied as necessary, is unsafe and that transport should be provided even though the distance falls short of their normal criteria. Local authorities may define "recommended walking routes" which they assess as safe to their schools to help parents and pupils.
Local authorities are also expected to consider medical conditions and both visible and hidden disabilities affecting a child's ability to walk or travel by bus or, exceptionally, affecting a parent's ability to accompany a younger child on the walk to school.
In the case of denominational schools and Gaelic Medium Education (GME), local authorities' assessment of eligibility for free home to school transport (based on reasonable walking distances) should consider the relevant catchment areas which such schools use. In the case of GME schools, this reflects the relevant statutory guidance.
The Scottish Government has made clear its expectation that Scotland's transport providers and public services will continually improve their performance to help disabled people make better journeys.
Authorities can use traffic regulation orders to restrict parking around schools or to exclude vehicles at particular times. For example, by installing retractable bollards to prevent vehicles from entering the school grounds or approaching too near to schools or introducing yellow line road markings to prohibit vehicles from waiting.
Powers of parking enforcement can either be Police Scotland or the local authority, depending on whether the local authority has Decriminalised Parking Enforcement (DPE)
The Scottish Government is committed to a long-term vision for active travel that encourages promotes walking, cycling, public transport and car sharing in preference to single occupancy car use for movement of people, and encourages efficient and sustainable freight.
Road Safety Scotland develops and maintains high-quality resources written by teachers for teachers and linked to Curriculum for Excellence, made available online to allow access to resources for use with children and young people aged 3-18.
The Eco-Schools Scotland programme comprises seven elements incorporating eight environmental topics, one of which is transport.
The transport sector is the largest emitter of greenhouse gases in Scotland. In the context of a global climate emergency, and youth climate strikes taking place across Scotland and the world, the Scottish Parliament set legally binding targets to reduce greenhouse gases by 75% by 2030, and 100% by 2045, compared to 1990 levels.
Also available - NLC Internal Transport Review (December 2022); NLC Joint Review with PT (December 2022).
If this policy is subject to the FSD what does it suggest about the impact or potential impact on socio-economic disadvantage?
There are potential cost impacts for those with low income who may choose alternatives to walking to school. This is mitigated by the national free travel for under 22s scheme.
Which people in communities are likely to be more affected (benefit more or less) by this policy than others?
People aged 5 -18 years will benefit from increased physical activity and wellbeing.
Women, boys and girls - Women as main carers may have to accompany children to school more.
People of different religions or beliefs - as denominational schools tend to have larger catchment areas.
Children and families – There may be cost implications for those who choose not to walk to school as an alternative to bus transport or use U22 free travel pass.
Carers/family members - Potentially longer day for those with caring responsibilities.
Do you have evidence or reason to believe that this policy will, or may potentially, have a bearing on reducing socio-economic disadvantage?
The approach will bring NLC into line with most other councils on eligibility criteria. It has the potential through increased participation in active travel to foster social cohesion. Possible cost to those who choose not to walk or not to use the U22 free pass.
What consultations have taken place?
There has been a wide statutory consultation.
What additional research or data is required?
Further analysis to identify all individuals affected by the approach; further cost/benefit analysis taking account of inflationary fluctuations. Further discussion with other councils who have implemented similar change to determine lessons learned.
What does the additional research and data tell you about potential or known effects?
This tells us that the approach has the potential to affect up to 3000 pupils. That cost/benefits continue to fluctuate within a volatile market but remain significant. That other authorities have operated within this approach for many years without significant issue or ongoing concern.
How does/will the policy and resulting activity affect those with identified characteristics?
This will help to encourage children and young people to adopt more active travel options such as walking or cycling where it is safe to do so. Evidence tells us that this can play a significant part in improving mental health and wellbeing as well as providing opportunities to lower carbon emissions by reducing the number of buses on our roads and traffic around schools.
Children and young people with additional support needs will not be impacted. We will continue to assess transport for children with additional support needs on an individual needs basis.
Where there is a perceived road safety risk or personal safety risk for children and young people, recommended walking routes are assessed by roads engineers who adopt national guidelines to determine if a walking route is acceptable.
There is a potential that larger families may have increased childcare. Active travel options will be considered.
A potentially higher proportion of children and young people attending denominational schools could be affected due to geographical catchment size. An open and consistent approach will be taken, across all our schools, to the calculation of distance and equitable provision of local active travel supports.
What measures could be taken to strengthen the policy / strategy to help advance equality of opportunity, foster good relations, promote human rights and reduce socio-economic disadvantage.
Statutory consultation with all stakeholders and wider communities. The promotion of locally led active travel options to include evidence of positive impacts on physical health and wellbeing, social cohesion, increased volunteering/participation or engagement with schools, parent-led options supported by the council.
What actions/measures will be put in place before introducing this policy?
- Ongoing review of statutory consultation outcomes and views of participants (June 2023)
- Analysis of all recommended walking routes (February 2024)
- Recalculation of distance criteria for each applicant to ensure accuracy (June 2024)
- Introduction of support measures and guidance for schools and parent groups on developing and running local active travel options (August 2024)
- Promotion of free under 22 bus pass to encourage wider use of public transport out with schools and in line with national priorities (August 2024)
How will you monitor the impact and effectiveness of the new policy?
The service will refine data capture and analysis and report to a project board at quarterly intervals. Regular compliance checks via appropriate partners as well as through existing consultation mechanisms such as parent councils.
What is the result/recommendation of this assessment?
That the introduction of these changes is informed by stakeholder feedback and by ongoing monitoring and review to ensure that those affected are fully supported and that any barriers to equality are identified and removed.