Agenda item

To consider the joint report of the Director of Children’s Services and the Deputy Chief Executive providing an update on proposals for the future provisions of transport assistance available to post-16 students with SEND. In addition, the report seeks permission for a new consultation to take place, in order to assess the likely impact on young people and families of the proposals. Furthermore, the report seeks permission for the findings of the proposed consultation to be used, if appropriate, in the preparation of a new post-16 SEND transport offer, for approval at a future Executive Board.

Further to Minute No. 35, 16^th July 2014, the Director of Children’s Services and the Deputy Chief Executive submitted a joint report providing an update on the proposals for the future provision of transport assistance available to post-16 students with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). The report sought permission for a new consultation exercise to take place, in order to assess the likely impact upon young people and families of the proposals. Furthermore, the report sought permission for the findings from the consultation to be used, if appropriate, in the preparation of a new post-16 SEND transport offer, for approval at a future Executive Board meeting. Finally, the report highlighted the success of the Independent Travel Training programme, and the opportunities for the further promotion of this scheme.

Following a discussion regarding the potential ways in which the Council’s fleet could be utilised differently, it was emphasised that the key objectives of the proposed consultation exercise was not only to increase value for money where possible, but to also empower families and help make available to them a wider choice and flexibility of service which better suited their own bespoke needs.

Responding to a Member’s enquiry, the Board was assured that the proposed consultation exercise would be comprehensive and inclusive, that the views of each affected individual family would be sought in a way that was correct for them, and that the Scrutiny Board Children’s Services would be involved in the consultation process.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the completion of the review of special needs passenger transport within the authority, which is deployed by Civic Enterprise Leeds on behalf of Children’s Services and Adult Social Care, be noted;

(b)  That the opportunities for further promoting inclusion in travel options through Independent Travel Training, while reducing costs and dependency, be noted;

(c)  That the demographic pressures relating to the increase in the number of children with an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan (which replaced the statement of Special Educational Needs), be noted;

(d)  That approval be given for a new consultation to take place during January-April 2016 in order to assess the likely impact on young people and families of new proposals. The consultation will centre upon a range of options, each of which may be subject to a final round of detailed analysis of the granular data prior to consultation commencing. The following options for consultation will involve ceasing the direct organisation and provision of transport for post-16 SEND students, and instead offer:-

·  A personal transport budget equivalent to the cost of one or two Metro passes, dependent on whether a student would need  accompanying on their journey;

·  A personal transport budget comprising the offer of a mileage allowance to parents, typically in the range of 50p - £1 per mile;

·  A personal transport budget based on a rate-banding system that takes into account the differing levels of need of students and the opportunity this would give parents to make their own arrangements in a more cost effective way.

(e)  That the findings of the consultation be used, if appropriate, in the preparation of a new Post-16 SEND transport offer (which is currently planned to be presented to a future Executive Board for approval - anticipated to be in July 2016);

(f)  That it be noted that the officer responsible for implementation of such matters is the Head of Commissioning and Contracting.