Push for action as parents left out of pocket by Highland Council after school trips cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic
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A hitch involving insurance providers is understood to be a factor in the lack of refunds for planned trips by Highland schools cancelled prior to government advice not to travel.
The matter is due to be discussed at Highland Council’s corporate resources committee on Wednesday, where councillors will be asked to stump up around £290,000 to pay parents back.
Refunds are needed for pupils on a total of 66 trips that did not happen.
One mother, who did not want to be named, said she paid £500 for her son, who is a pupil at Culloden Academy, to go to Belgium on a school trip.
“It was due to take place in April,” she said. “We want the money back, and Highland Council should be responsible as the organisers of the trip.
“It is not our fault that he was unable to go on the trip.”
Councillor Duncan Macpherson thinks the council must do the right thing and make up the shortfall for parents.
“People need to get their money back now,” he said. “That is what I will be calling for at the corporate resources committee. The money should come from the hardship funding provided by the Scottish Government.
“In all good conscience it is unacceptable that this money was taken from parents who in some cases scraped it together, and it has not been repaid. It is several months since the school trips should have taken place, and they are still waiting to find out if they will be refunded.
“I know that some Scottish outdoor education centres, booked by the council, were not offering a refund and instead were putting the money towards a deposit for next year, but that means that this year’s parents are out of pocket.”
Councillor Ken Gowans said parents were entitled to receive a refund from the council as soon as possible.
“Many parents are going through serious financial hardship, due to furlough and reduced wages, and getting this money back to them as quickly as possible is very important,” he said.
“It will be a financial hit, but Highland Council has to do the right thing.”
Brian Porter, council head of resources, has warned councillors the refund figure could rise, adding: “Parents in many cases have already had some weeks or months of uncertainty, and it would not be reasonable for this to continue, nor that parents should have any doubt over whether refunds will be forthcoming.”
Schools have been closed since mid-March due to the pandemic.
