Decision details

HOME TO SCHOOL TRAVEL - JANUARY 2014

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Decision status: Recommendations approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Purpose:

To confirm a revised implementation date of September 2015 for the policy changes agreed by Cabinet in December 2013.

Decision:

THAT:

(a)    the implementation date for the policy changes agreed by Cabinet in December 2013 be amended to September 2015, having the following effect:

(b)     to withdraw the Herefordshire free home to school transport policy eligibility based upon nearest and catchment school and replace with eligibility based upon:

i)       nearest suitable school with places,

ii)     where the nearest suitable school is in Wales, transport will be provided to that nearest school or the nearest school in England;

(c)    To withdraw  from September 2015 free transport for Herefordshire post 16 years with SEN and replace with the requirement for all post 16 years with SEN to pay the same contribution as all other post 16 students.

(d)    To apply the policy change in (b) only to those children newly entering a school from September 2015. 

The implications of these policy changes are reviewed annually or sooner in the event that the impact of the proposed changes is materially worse than anticipated.

Reasons for the decision:

To determine how the one-off funding approved by Council as part of the budget is to be applied and to ensure that any period of uncertainty for parents, schools and transport operators is minimised.

 

Alternative options considered:

Not to amend the implementation date. Council have approved a budget with a view to enabling a change in implementation date to allow schools and parents greater time to plan for change; although not to amend the date would deliver savings it would not allow for the planning time desired.

The policy changes be introduced in September 2015 but exclude some year groups. Parents/carers who had made choices about school based on transport entitlement would be faced with having to make further choices while their child was settled at a school.

 

Reason Key: Strategic nature / impact on communities;

Wards Affected: (All Wards);

Publication date: 13/03/2014

Date of decision: 13/03/2014

Effective from: 20/03/2014