Issue - meetings

To submit a report on the above.

1.     To accept the report, noting the observations, particularly the comment in respect of being aware of the specific needs of some groups of children when planning the provision.

2.     To note the importance of the travel provision to the college for young people in Dwyfor and Meirionnydd.

3.     To request that the Cabinet Member for Education contacts the Welsh Government in the context of introducing a free travel pass for young people 16-21 years old to reduce the pressure on the Council to provide free transport, and to facilitate travel to work, to college or sixth form.

Submitted - the report of the Cabinet Member for Education:

·         to explain the background and rationale for the historic overspending in education transport;

·         to report on progress and the actions that have been taken in response to the situation; as well as

·         to present options being considered in terms of future education transport arrangements to try to rationalise and reduce costs where practicable.

The Cabinet Member set out the context and then gave members the opportunity to ask questions and offer observations. 

It was noted that it was recognised that there was a shortage of taxis in the Meirionnydd area in particular and that this was bound to be generating high costs for the Council.  It was asked what was intended to be done in terms of that.  In response, it was noted:

·         That there was a shortage of transport providers in many areas which could lead to higher prices for provision as the driver or taxi had to travel from a greater distance to do the work.

·         That the report referred to a number of practical steps that could be taken in relation to the situation and that the Department was looking at all possible options going forward.

With reference to the programme of work in paragraph 4.1.1 of the report which refers to revisiting the transport arrangements of Additional Learning Needs learners, the Department was asked not to put these children and young people in a box and to acknowledge that they had different disabilities, and not just physical disabilities.  It was noted that children and young people with neurodiverse conditions needed to be considered, and to seek legal advice before formulating any criteria or plan for ALN learners.  In response, it was noted:

·         That the reference in the report to revisiting ALN learner transport arrangements was more to do with revisiting the timetable rather than the provision, so that provision could be tendered earlier for these children and young people in order to get the best price.

·         That in terms of the wider comment on ALN transport, the needs of all children had to be considered of course and it was not thought that that would change in any arrangements that were made, but possibly that we were looking at a different and slightly more cost effective way of providing transport in the future.

·         That a number of recent conversations had been held with Ysgol Hafod Lon in terms of identifying the needs of different children and identifying which children would be able to travel together, which children would not be suitable to do so and which children needed chaperones, etc.

It was noted that, looking at the plan, it had to be recognised that any minor change such as a taxi change could be harmful to ALN learners.  In response, it was noted that this was going to have to be addressed going forward to ensure that the needs of the learners on the journey were met which is why, when going out to tender, we  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6