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Highland councillors agree plan for school trip refunds for parents


By Gregor White

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Cllr Alister Mackinnon.
Cllr Alister Mackinnon.

Highland councillors have supported recommendations over refunding families for school trips cancelled as a result of the coronavirus crisis.

A meeting of the council's corporate resources committee had to be postponed today due to network issues affecting council offices and home connections across the region.

However members who would have been in attendance at today's meetingwere contacted by chairman Alister Mackinnon to discuss the refund issue.

Members noted the steps taken by Highland Council and its schools to manage the impact of school trip cancellations, and in turn minimise the costs.

"Cancellation of school trips has already been a disappointment to many and it was important despite today's postponement that we did everything within our power to deal with this very important issue." - Alister Mackinnon

The council says this will be done by seeking to reschedule trips or receive refunds or insurance pay outs where appropriate.

Members supported the recommendation that the council should take steps to refund parents in these situations, where no other source of refund is available, and to avoid any financial loss or hardship on parents as a result.

Part of the recommendations involve the use of the council's financial hardship fund, as the source of funding any refunds.

Cllr MacKinnon, said: "Following consultation with the executive chief officer resources and finance and members of the corporate resources committee, I am pleased to say that, due to the exceptional circumstances, committee members have clearly stated their agreement with the recommendations .

"Cancellation of school trips has already been a disappointment to many and it was important despite today's postponement that we did everything within our power to deal with this very important issue.

"We are now able to ensure that parents/carers are reimbursed as soon as possible and that no family is left out of pocket as a result of the cancellation of their school trip."

The re-scheduled Corporate Resources Committee meeting will take place on Thursday, August 20 at 1pm or following the conclusion of the Easter Ross Area Committee on the same date, whichever is the later.

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