Further to Minute No. 114, 16th December 2015, the Director of Children and Families submitted a report advising of the outcome of the associated consultation process, and which sought approval to implement a new transport offer for young people with SEND (Special Educational Needs or Disabilities) in post-16 education.
In presenting the report, the Executive Member for Children and Families highlighted how the submitted proposals differed from those that had been originally set out, as a result of the feedback received from the associated consultation exercise.
Responding to a Member’s enquiry, the Board received assurances regarding the communication which had taken place with affected individuals and families to date, together with the individual assessment for each young person that was intended to be undertaken, should the submitted policy be approved.
Members thanked the Scrutiny Board (Children and Families) for the valuable work which had been undertaken by Board in this area, which included the Scrutiny Board statement, as appended to the submitted report. The Chair of the Scrutiny Board provided a brief summary of the statement, together with the accompanying recommendations, which the Executive Board was supportive of.
RESOLVED –
(a) That the proposed Children’s Transport policy, 17th July 2017, as detailed at Appendix 1 to the submitted report, be approved. With it being noted that: Personal Travel Allowances will be offered to eligible young people with SEND in post-16 education as an alternative to providing transport. Young people with the very highest level of need, however, will continue to receive bespoke transport. Transport assistance would in future be made available on the following basis, depending on the level of transport need, as detailed in the policy and assessed by Children’s Transport:
A: Independent Travel Training and a free bus pass (or equivalent cost) for a young person who is able to travel independently or could make the journey to their learning setting on public transport accompanied by an adult as necessary.
B: A Lower Personal Travel Allowance (PTA) equivalent to £1 per mile for 2 single journeys per day.
C: An upper PTA equivalent to £1.50 per mile for 2 single journeys per day.
D: Provision of Bespoke Transport.
(b) That the new arrangements be introduced from September 2017, with it being noted that phasing arrangements, as detailed at paragraphs 3.42 – 3.45 of the submitted report, will mean that young people with SEND entering post-16 education for the first time from September 2018 onwards will be the first to receive transport assistance under the new policy.
(c) That it be noted that the officer responsible for the implementation of such matters is the Head of Commissioning and Contracting.
(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)