A TRAFFORD councillor who questioned whether the council is legally allowed to hand responsibility of crossing patrols over to schools has urged the council to allay headteachers’ worries.

As part of the £22million savings that must be made to balance the 2017/18 budget, Trafford Council has put forward plans to turn its school crossing patrols into a ‘traded service’, with schools and community groups forking out for costs.

A £350,000 saving could be made in the next financial year if council decide to pass the proposal.

Councillor Jane Baugh questioned if the proposed move is illegal at Trafford Council’s full council meeting last night.

She cited the Schools and Early Years Finance Regulations 2014, which states that there is a legal responsibility for schools to spend their budgets only on agreed ring-fenced matters.

The terms exclude expenditure for the purposes of section 26 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 and arrangements for patrolling school crossings.

Prior to last night’s meeting, Cllr Baugh received confirmation from the council that schools’ Dedicated Schools Grant must not be used for patrols.

But Councillor Laura Evans, executive member for transformation and resources, said that whilst the council recognised restrictions on what schools are able to use certain funding for, it wanted to explore funding options that enable it to support the retention of school crossing patrols across the borough.

She added: “The council’s proposal for consultation is designed to seek partners to support the service and has never suggested that funding would be exclusively the responsibility of schools alone.”

Speaking on Wednesday, Cllr Baugh said: “Would you please, as a matter of courtesy, which I am sure would be appreciated by our schools, inform them at your earliest convenience that now the council confirms that it would be illegal for them to fund the crossing patrols service?

“This gesture, I am sure, will relieve the stress they have been under in relation to this issue, particularly at a time of increasing pressure on their school budget.”

Cllr Evans replied: “We do recognise the DSG framework and obviously continue to work to find the resolution and will update you at the end of the consultation the findings that we have from that.”

Cllr Baugh pressed Cllr Evans for a direct answer on whether the council would be informing the schools. She said this is because headteachers have contacted her stating they have had no response.

Cllr Evans said: “If you would like to ask them to contact me I would more than happy to speak with them.”