Agenda item

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 start of the school academic year and this could delay children’s attendance at school if parents chose to wait until the outcome was determined.

The Chairman moved to debate.

A variety of arguments were heard, including:

·         The view that schools could work collaboratively in providing home to school transport for children, with the possibility of exploring advertising with local companies to help with fundraising.

·         That the cost of providing Home to School transport differs greatly based on whether the area is urban or rural, with Hampshire incurring particularly high spend due to its rural geography.  It was added that this point had been reinforced to the Secretary of State for Education by the Executive Lead Member.

·         Some Members raised concern that the majority of people who responded to the consultation didn’t support the proposals.

·         That concern was raised that this was a cost driven exercise and some Members wouldn’t support the proposals because of the effect on families.

·         The view that schools could liaise with Parish and District Councils to explore possibilities of providing assistance in their local areas.

·         That some Members raised concern from an environmental perspective due to increased car usage, and building problems for the future.

·         That some Members extended their thanks to Officers involved for their hard work.

Following debate the Chairman moved to consideration of the recommendations.  A number of additional recommendations to the Executive Lead Member were proposed and considered by the Committee and a vote was held on each as set out below:

a.            Proposed by Councillor Jackie Porter and seconded by Councillor Michael Westbrook as set out below.

‘Re-consider the options for pre-school and rising 5’s school transport particularly to encourage rising 5’s the opportunity to attend school’.

For:                 8

Against:         10

Abstained:     None

b.            Proposed by Councillor Malcolm Wade and seconded by Councillor Gavin James as set out below.

‘Offer a continuing place to 8 year olds (Year 3) on the school bus, even if they have to pay’.

For:                 8

Against:         9

Abstained:     1

c.            Proposed by Councillor Gavin James and seconded by Councillor Jackie Porter as set out below.

‘To reinstate the councillor panel to determine appeals’.

Following legal advice, this was withdrawn.

d.            Proposed by Councillor Michael Westbrook and seconded by Councillor Wayne Irish as set out below.

‘To carry out impact assessments on schools with rural catchments to deal with any extra traffic’.

For:               5

Against:       13

Abstained:    None

The Chairman moved to consider the recommendation in the report to the Committee as set out below:

‘That the Children and Young People Select Committee consider and support the recommendations being proposed to the Executive Lead Member for Children’s Services in the attached report’.

For:                10

Against:         8

Abstained:     None

RESOLVED:

That the Children and Young People Select Committee support the recommendations being proposed to the Executive Lead Member for Children’s Services in the attached report.