A volunteer who regularly hired council minibuses said they would be losing a “vital asset” after it was confirmed the local authority was to stop the service over concerns about insurance.
The bus hires stopped in the pandemic and council officers said that changes to insurance meant the council could now be liable in accidents if the buses continued to be hired out, without regular driver training.
Volunteers now face paying far more for commercial bus hires and it is also difficult to hire the right size of bus from commercial operators, with most buses either too small or too large.
The decision was described as “short-sighted” by one local councillor, while another said it would have serious “long term consequences” for community groups.
And John Lockhart, a chair of two community groups, said he had received no communication from the council regarding the changes, despite claims that officers had communicated with voluntary groups in February.
Mr Lockhart, the chair Bathgate’s FABB club, said they had hired the minibuses 39 times in the year before the pandemic.
The FABB club is a youth group that works for the integration of young people with and without disabilities. FABB attempts to challenge personal and social barriers through the provision of an informal activity programme.
Mr Lockhart also relied on the council minibuses to organise trips for ski instruction at Hillend.
“The minibuses are a vital resource for our community, providing a cost-effective means of community engagement,” he said.
“As a volunteer, I think it’s the council’s duty to support voluntary organisations.
“The volunteers in Bathgate have said enough is enough.”
Mr Lockhart was speaking as decision to scrap the service was taken by West Lothian Council earlier this month.
SNP depute leader Councillor Robert De Bold also raised an amendment against scrapping hires. It was supported by the Conservative Group leader Damian Doran-Timson who objected to being asked to agree to the Labour plan with the scant information provided to the meeting.
Councillor De Bold the meeting “It will have long term consequences. There are multiple organisations which seem to have relied on this facility”.
He said while it was true that many groups had only used the service once a year: “maybe it was for their annual trip, and without this facility they would not be able to do that. The council should support voluntary organisations.”
And Lib Dem Councillor Sally Pattle said she had heard from organisations which were simply told the service was no longer available they had been given no information about the planned changes.
She added “I think this is a short-sighted decision, it’s going to have really negative long-term impacts on community organisations and community wealth building, which is one of our priorities.”
Councillor Doran-Timson called for deferral and said: “There’s nowhere near enough information in the paper for the council to make a decision today.”
Council leader Lawrence Fitzpatrick said: “We are in difficult times. I realise that many voluntary organisations are struggling to raise funds to meet costs across the board for activities.”
Head of Operational Services Jim Jack said: “Unfortunately we are no longer able to help community organisations with the hire of council minibuses.
“The service has not been operating for over two and a half years, and the risks raised by our review makes it clear that reinstating it is not a viable option.
“Alternative solutions are being investigated, such as putting in place a community benefit contract with local minibus companies which would allow reduced cost hires for community organisations.”
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