Renfrewshire Council is to review its home-to-school transport policy following an internal audit which identified issues around how some procedures were documented.
The issue was raised at a meeting of the council’s Audit, Risk and Scrutiny Board following an internal audit of school transport arrangements.
The audit gave reasonable assurance over the areas examined but identified a number of areas requiring management action.
Councillors questioned findings around the way secondary reviews were carried out and the lack of a formal mechanism to demonstrate that policies had been reviewed and updated.
The board heard that special rules and arrangements had been put in place for some schools but these had not always been documented.
Auditors said this created a concern that procedures could be applied inconsistently if new staff took over, with councillors told there should be a written record and clear audit trail.
Gerard Hannah, Head of Climate, Public Protection and Roads at Renfrewshire Council, told the board that the wider home-to-school transport arrangements were overdue for review.
He said: “As far as the home-to-school transport report is concerned, it is well overdue in relation to a review.”
The council is also reviewing acceptable walking routes to schools across Renfrewshire.
Councillor Gillian Graham asked whether there were any risks to pupils or families while that work remained ongoing.
Mr Hannah said risks identified through the reviews would need to be assessed, with action then taken to reduce or remove specific risks.
Paisley Grammar was given as an example of work already carried out, with the board told that 50 different adaptations had been made.
Officers are working with departments across the council on issues including dropped kerbs, school crossings and lighting.
Mr Hannah also told the meeting that around 20 adaptations had been completed across the wider school estate.
Once the acceptable walking routes have been reviewed, work will move on to a review of the home-to-school transport policy.
The updated policy is expected to address the need for a consistent approach and a clear audit trail.
It will then be brought back to the board for approval.