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Barnet Council cash for lollipop crossing patrols set to be axed according to councillor

4:30pm Wednesday 26th January 2011 in Top Stories Photograph of the Author By Alex Hayes

SCHOOL crossing patrols in the borough could be for the axe after a councillor signalled an intention to cut centralised funding last night.

Ten schools currently get cash from Barnet council to employ the lollipop men and women to help youngsters get to and from school on dangerous roads.

However, the funding was put under threat as part of a spending review to save £54m in three years.

When asked by Lib Dem leader Councillor Jack Cohen whether he could confirm all crossing patrols will be retained Councillor Brian Coleman, who is in charge of transport, replied “no”.

In his follow-up question Cllr Cohen said: “I take that to mean you're going to cut school crossing patrols. Please can you confirm which schools will have their patrols cut?”

Cllr Coleman replied: “Ten schools are still funded centrally. Of those ten four wish to retire. It's open to schools to make their own crossing patrol arrangements, just as they make their own staffing arrangements.

“Simply, quite why we're funding ten patrols when the other 110 schools in the borough make their own arrangements no-one can remember.”

Comments(1)

Mr Reasonable says...
3:38pm Thu 27 Jan 11

I still find this one a bit puzzling. Barnet claims that by cutting these ten crossing patrols it will be saving £117,000. That works out at nearly £12,000 per patrol. Given that the staff work no more than 1.5 hours a day, no more than 40 weeks a year I can't find a way that it comes anywhere near £117,000. So how have the council arrived at the savings figure? Perhaps it is the allocation of all of the huge overheads at Barnet Council; HR, IT, space costs etc. If that is the case then the argument is not to cut the crossing patrols but the cut the central overhead costs. Sadly I fear that the crossing patrol will be cut but the saving on central overheads will not be reailsed leaving us without a vital service but with no cost benefit. Come on Barnet Council let's start having a more sensible and honest debate about all of these proposed budget cuts and whether or not they will actually be delivered.

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