JUST £1 per week wages over the summer holidays could be all it takes to address a shortage of lollipop ladies in Bolton

Councillors have agreed to look at a loophole in the benefit rules which could help them recruit more crossing patrols.

Recent rule changes mean lollipop ladies lose their family credit and housing benefit over the summer holidays when they are not being paid by the council.

The anomaly has led to a shortage of crossing patrols because likely candidates say they cannot afford to take the part-time jobs because they will lose their benefits for six weeks of the year.

But Cllr Pauline Spencer believes paying crossing patrols a small retainer over the summer holidays would allow them to claim.

Cllr Spencer said many staff fell into arrears with their rent when the rules were changed without their knowledge and backdated and this made them reluctant to continue in the job.

Problem

But she told councillors: "There appears to be a loophole and we should explore it as a way around the problem.

"It seems all we have to do is pay crossing patrols a small retainer over the summer holidays - the Benefits Agency do not seem to be concerned about the shorter holidays such as Christmas and Easter."

Planning Chairman Cllr Jack Foster agreed: "I know we are having difficulties recruiting because no one wants to do the job these days.

"There are talks going on about this at national level but in the meantime, I think we can look to see if paying them through the holidays is one way around it. We shall see if this small retainer, which might only need to be about £1 per week, means they can still claim their benefits."

Liberal Democrat Cllr Barbara Ronson backed Cllr Spencer's call but said the Benefits Agency should have resolved the difficulty before now.

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