PARENTS in Clydebank will continue to have an option to pay money to their children’s schools by cash, a committee has heard.

The council’s educational services committee last week approved a pilot scheme to move towards cashless systems across area schools but concerns were raised that could be a challenge for some families.

Financial savings by introducing online payments – for everything from trips to projects where parents and families give money to schools – would be relatively minor but teachers would have less hassle from avoiding handling cash.

Councillor Martin Rooney told the committee: “I think this is definitely the way to go. If it turns out there will be some people who don’t have access to online access, and it will probably be very small amounts...so long as there is consideration of an ability to pay.”

And council leader Cllr Jonathan McColl agreed: “We were concerned about just swapping over to the online payment system. I think there needs to be something.”

Council officers assured elected members they would report back after the pilot scheme – likely to be focused on Vale of Leven schools.

Provost William Hendrie added: “I still want something there in case anyone wants to pay cash. Not everyone in every family has access to a computer – that will never change.

“There has to be a back-up mechanism. It’s just a safety net.”

Gavin Corrigan one of the teachers’ representatives on the committee, said: “We welcome the online payments system. It’s not teachers’ duty [to handle money]. Anything that takes that away from us would be ideal.”

Council bosses estimated transactions at three primaries and all five secondaries in the area to compare to other councils.

The cost of cash uplifts is currently £21,418 a year. Existing cash payments would continue for a time but the council estimates they could save £15,000 a year by switching to online payments.

There would be a cost for bringing in an online system and this would be met using funds already going to cashless catering.

A report will be submitted to the committee on how the pilot scheme has run at a later date and councillors approved the plan.