Issue - meetings

School Transport Review - Supplementary Consultation

Meeting: 06/11/2013 - Executive Board (Item 113)

113 Outcome of Supplementary Consultation and review of Children's Services School Transport Policy pdf icon PDF 165 KB

To consider the report of the Director of Childrens Services on the outcome of supplementary consultation on the review of Children’s Services School Transport Policy

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Director of Children’s Services submitted a report presenting the outcomes from the recent supplementary public consultation on the current Children’s Services Home to School Transport Policy. Approval was sought for recommendations to be included in a new policy for implementation from 1st December 2013.

 

A copy of the proposed Policy was contained within Appendix 1 to the report.

 

In relation to proposals for post 16 SEN transport, the Board noted the intention to present a further report, assessing the implications of the Children and Families Bill once it had been enacted next year. The Board noted the individual comment made by a Member opposing the Policy.

RESOLVED –

That approval be given to the following changes to the current policy:

a)  To remove discretionary free travel on the basis of non-faith or belief;

b)  To remove discretionary free travel on the basis of parental preference on the grounds of the parents’ religion or belief for their child to be educated in a single sex educational setting;

c)  To implement the policy for all new applicants from 1st December 2013, but provide transitional discretionary free travel for existing recipients until 31st August 2015. This would be in line with the Board’s decision on 17th July 2013, in relation to the removal of discretionary free travel for students on the basis of faith and for those attending school/college (over sixteen).

d)  To note that the Director of Children’s Services (the Director) will submit a further report to the Executive Board during 2014 in relation to updated proposals for post 16 SEN transport. This will take place as soon as formal proposals have been designed and agreed, and after the new Children and Families Bill has been enacted.

e)  To note that the Director will publish a new Children’s Transport policy on 1st December 2013 (subject to due governance processes). This will be available on the Council’s internet pages.