Angry parents have called on Aberdeenshire Council to scrap a price hike for out-of-school clubs, with some claiming it will leave them hundreds of pounds out of pocket every month.
The local authority has announced it is to up the cost of its breakfast and after-school sessions at a rate of almost £5 per day for children attending both, prompting complaints that it will no longer be affordable for many.
From November 1, it will also be imposing fines of £10 for non-appearances and £20 for late pick-ups, as well as dropping half-sessions and discounts for siblings.
On the same date, the cost to attend a breakfast club will rise from £4.10 to £6.50, while after-school costs will jump from £7.18 to £10.50.
Combined, these represent a 50% increase on the daily price though the council has said the hike is necessary to keep services running.
Over the last 12 years session costs have increased by just 2.5%, despite those for goods and services rocketing far higher.
Inverbervie mum-of-two Clare McElarney branded the move a “triple-whammy” blow to parents’ finances.
She said: “It’s not necessarily the increase in itself – it’s that they are also removing discounts for siblings and half-sessions and imposing penalties.
“I’ve been in touch with lots of other parents who are pretty upset.
“One said they will have an increase of £240 per month, which is just not workable.”
She added: “We all appreciate that the increases need to happen but this is just outrageous.”
Another parent, who lives in Ellon and did not want to be named, said the changes – outlined in a letter sent out by the council were “hard to swallow”.
“The letter states they haven’t had a price increase for a number of years and obviously these should have been incremental, but we’re getting them all at once,” she said.
“To have such a massive increase is a bit hard to swallow. It makes it unaffordable for a lot of people.”
Alison Evison, the local authority opposition group’s education spokeswoman, said she would raise the issue with colleagues.
“Although the ongoing reductions to the council’s base budget mean that it is having to increase the fees it charges for services, this process should be carried out as far as possible in a supportive way, especially as we are entering a time of financial uncertainty for many families.
“There does not seem to have been any appreciation of the impact that this change in fees would have on individual families nor any steps to support them.
“I will be discussing the issue this coming week with colleagues and officers.”
Parents have to apply in writing by October 20 if they want to withdraw their children before the price hike, effectively giving them two months’ notice to find alternative childcare arrangements.
However, Aberdeenshire Council says the cost of its out-of-school sessions will still be cheaper than the average private alternative.
It also told parents that “financial pressures” mean it is necessary to increase prices in one go, rather than incrementally.
Council officers are currently considering whether to increase the price of holiday clubs and are expected to make a decision on that in December.
