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

The Cabinet Member, Young People and Children’s Wellbeing reminded Cabinet of the discussions following the February Council meeting, when there had been confusion over the decision of Council.  He advised of the 12 month delay that had been agreed to allay any confusion.  He reminded Cabinet that it had been agreed not to bring changes in for children in their GCSE year.  However, following Group Leader discussions the changes would now take effect per year as children entered primary school at age four and high school at age 11 and would not affect those children already in school.  The Council had approved one off funding to maintain the current situation with the policy changes coming into effect in 2015.  Members welcomed the 18 month breathing space given, which would allow schools, parents and bus companies to work together to make new arrangements.

Additionally, the Cabinet Member advised of the continued lobbying that had been carried out to get fairer funding for rural schools.  Currently Herefordshire was the thirty ninth lowest funded for schools in the country.  He advised that government had announced today an increase in funding for the lowest funded authorities, which for Herefordshire meant 2.9% increase from April 2015.  This amounted to an extra £124 per pupil.  The Leader expressed his thanks to all those involved in the lobbying.  It was noted that although Herefordshire was still below the national average for funding, the gap had been reduced by 50%.

RESOLVED

          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; and

e)    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.