Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Director of Children’s Services seeking permission to move to a phase of public consultation upon the future of the discretionary elements within the current Leeds Children’s Services Transport Policy.  The consultation would also seek to explore further opportunities to work with partners to improve overall provision in support of our ambition to be a Child Friendly City.

The Director of Children’s Services submitted a report which sought permission to move to a phase of public consultation upon the future of the discretionary elements within the current Leeds Children’s Services Transport Policy. The consultation proposed would also seek to explore further opportunities to work with partnersin order to improve overall provision in support of the Council’s ambition to be a Child Friendly City.

In response to an enquiry, the Board was reassured that the proposed consultation exercise was in relation to the discretionary elements of the Children’s Services Transport Policy only. However, it was noted that further work may be undertaken in the future in order to ensure that the Council was fulfilling its statutory obligations in this field as effectively as possible.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That a period of 28 days public Consultation, to commence on 25^th February 2013, on the future of the discretionary elements of the Transport Policy, which will support the development of a new Children’s Services Transport Policy, be agreed.  (This may see the removal or amendment of some or all of the present discretionary aspects of the transport policy from September 2013. The consultation will also seek to explore how the Council can work with partners to enhance the wider offer and maximise opportunities that may be available).

(b)  That it be confirmed that the design and delivery of the consultation exercise should be fully informed by the views of young people, whilst ensuring that all stakeholders are encouraged to participate and to submit their own ideas on the shape, emphasis and delivery of the new policy provisions.

(Under the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 16.5, Councillor A Carter required it to be recorded that he abstained from voting on the decisions referred to within this minute)