Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Director of Children’s Services regarding the Home to School Transport Policy and the Post 16 Transport Policy Statement.

To subject to pre-decision scrutiny the proposed changes to the Home to School Transport Policy and Post 16 Transport Policy Statement.

The Committee received a report of the Director of Children’s Services setting out recommendations to the Executive Lead Member for Children’s Services regarding Proposed Changes to the Home to School Transport Policy and Post 16 Transport Policy Statement (see Item 6 in the Minute Book).

The report set out the outcomes of the public consultation on changes to the Home to School Transport and Post 16 Transport Policies to bring the policy in line with the County Council’s statutory responsibilities and remove the discretionary elements from the service.  The Committee also received a presentation which addressed key areas and set out the responsibility of the local authority to provide free home to school transport for children of compulsory school age in certain circumstances prescribed in legislation.  The circumstances for eligibility were set out, and the costs in providing both statutory and discretionary provision were explained to Members.  Comparisons between the cost of home to school transport for rural and urban authorities was also highlighted as well as the discretionary features of the current home to school policy.

The recommendations in the report were detailed to the Committee, which would be considered by the Executive Lead Member for Children’s Services at his decision day later in the afternoon.

In response to questions, Members heard:

·         Consultation feedback and responses had been examined and taken into account as well as taking into account managing statutory and discretionary home to school transport services within a reduced budget.

·         That currently 152 children were eligible for home to school transport from Ancells Farm to Fleet Infant and Velmead Junior schools, with transport provided by way of three contracted vehicles. 

·         That most catchment area schools were within walking distance for parents and children.

·         Whilst it was proposed to implement the walking distance of three miles on a child’s eighth birthday, thus removing the discretionary policy of waiting until the end of the school year, in many case families would be able to purchase spare seats when they are available on the contracted service that they have previously used, as well as having the opportunity to appeal.

·         That Post 16 students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) could qualify for transport based on their individual circumstances.

·         Individual schools could work with families to look at opportunities for providing home to school transport ‘in-house’.

·         All children in care have a distinct service that will continue to provide home to school transport and other travel requirements within their social care provision.

·         That changes to the Post 16-Transport policy statement would not influence commercial bus routes.

·         That national road safety guidelines state that children should be accompanied as necessary by parents/guardians when walking to school.  The County Council appreciates that this isn’t always practical.  In the past the County Council’s Regulatory Panel B has carried out assessments to determine safe walking routes to school.

·         That families in rural areas with no means of transport could apply to pay for a spare available seat, but availability wouldn’t be clear until the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 54