Agenda item

(CSP: P+S, HQL, MEC, HQL1 & MEC1)

Purpose:  To review the consultation feedback on the proposed policies for 2015/16 and 2016/17 and determine the Council policy.

Resolved that the 2015/16 and 2016/17 policies and the specific proposal to remove free transport to the catchment school for secondary students be approved.

This decision is eligible to be ‘called-in’.  However, if the decision has not been ‘called-in’ by 5.00pm on 18 September 2015, then it will be implemented.

The Executive considered a report (Agenda Item 7) which reviewed the consultation feedback on the proposed policies for 2015/16 and 2016/17 and which sought to determine the Council’s policy.

Councillor Dominic Boeck explained that the Council reviewed its Home to School Transport Policy, post-16 Transport Statement and Fare Payer Scheme annually and publicly consulted on the proposals. The consultation began on 8th June 2015 and ended on 17th July 2015. A Consultation Summary Report was provided within Appendix A.

In relation to the 2015/16 policy, two matters had been raised, which had been addressed by amending the wording in the final version of the Policy:

·                the process for responding to urgent need in relation to temporary re-housing

·                the position for children of separated or divorced parents who lived in two households

The 2016/17 policy would mirror the 2015/16 policy in this regard.

The 2016/17 policy included a proposal to remove free entitlement to discretionary transport to secondary catchment schools and introduce a fee. There was no legal entitlement to free transport to the catchment school, only to the nearest school. The Council was not obliged to provide catchment transport without a charge. The proposed fee was £250 p.a. (equivalent to £1.32 per school day for a return journey).

Universal opposition had been voiced in response to the consultation on this proposal, which would affect c.400 students out of a cohort of 11500. The overwhelming majority of responses came from Curridge, Chieveley and Hermitage villages which fed The Downs school, which was the area most affected by the proposal. Other Local Authorities, including Oxfordshire, had withdrawn some or all aspects of discretionary transport.

Home to School Transport budgets had been reduced for the last 4 years, (from £3.9m p.a to £3.3m p.a.) through robust procurement and streamlining routes. The ability to continue to make savings on Home to School Transport without impacting on families had been exhausted.

The requirement to deliver a further £100,000 in savings in 2016/17 was the driver for the above proposal. The widening of the fare payer fee would generate between £57k and £90k income in a full year, although the proposal was being phased in and the actual amount of savings would depend on whether parents paid the fee to use the school bus or made alternative arrangements.

Councillor Hilary Cole explained that the proposal to remove free entitlement to discretionary transport to secondary catchment schools and introduce a fee was a matter of much concern for many residents in her Ward. As reported above, it was residents in her Ward, Chieveley, who would be particularly affected by this proposal and Councillor Cole had been contacted by many of her constituents with their concerns. However, Councillor Cole fully understood the need to make savings in this area and would therefore be supporting the recommended actions.

Councillor Mollie Lock was concerned as a child’s catchment school was not always their nearest school and it could be the case that a child’s nearest school was at capacity and could not accommodate them. She then queried whether pupils already within a secondary school in the 2015/16 academic year and in receipt of free transport would retain this throughout their time at the school. Councillor Boeck explained that the proposal, due to start in 2016/17, would not affect children already within a school. However, the fee would apply to new entrants to a school (from September 2016), including applying to younger siblings of those in receipt of free transport.

Councillor Alan Macro added to the point raised by Councillor Lock by stating that parental preference could be for the nearest school but this school could be oversubscribed. This would mean that a child might not be able to attend their nearest school, through no fault of their own, and would not meet the criteria for free entitlement to discretionary transport.

Councillor Macro then queried the length of time that seats could be guaranteed on school buses. He also questioned how long the fee of £250 p.a. would be retained and the potential for parents to spread this cost over a year to make it more affordable. It would be helpful to parents to know that a seat would continue to be available and affordable throughout their child’s time at secondary school.

Councillor Boeck confirmed that an ‘easy payment’ was offered. He agreed to discuss with Officers the potential to spread costs as much as possible. The fare payer scheme had been in operation for some time and places/cost of places could not be guaranteed indefinitely. However, the policies, if approved, would be set for the two year period (i.e. 2015/16 Policy and 2016/17 Policy).

RESOLVED that:

1.    The 2015/16 and 2016/17 policies be approved.

2.    The specific proposal to remove free transport to the catchment school for secondary students be approved.

Reason for the decision: Statutory requirement to determine the Home to School Transport Policy and the post-16 Transport Statement.

Other options considered: None