Agenda item

Cabinet approval was given to hold a consultation on the Education Transport Policy (Draft).

The report was submitted by Cllr Dewi Jones.

DECISION

Cabinet approval was given to hold a consultation on the Education Transport Policy (Draft).

DISCUSSION

It was emphasised that this Policy was in draft form, as the purpose of bringing the item before the meeting was to seek Cabinet approval to hold a consultation.

It was stated that the current Policy had been in place since 2009, and it was noted that it was therefore timely to develop a new policy.

Reference was made to the Empty Seat Scheme, explaining that an empty seat was offered to a learner who was not eligible for free transport, if a seat was available on transport. It was added that legislative requirements now made it more difficult to offer this arrangement.

It was explained that transport had been provided to faith schools in line with the statutory requirement, but that there was no reference to faith schools in the current policy. The (Draft) Policy submitted would offer clarity in terms of the transport offered.

It was highlighted that the Council provided discretionary transport to full-time post-16 learners at present, and details were provided of the (Draft) Policy proposal to provide transport to the nearest catchment area/suitable school, as well as to the nearest college site that provided the course. The proposal was elaborated upon, and it was noted that it did not restrict the learners' options in terms of the courses available to them, but it ensured that transport to the nearest site offering that course would only be offered.

It was noted that the (Draft) Policy also offered more information about dual residency, reiterating that the Authority would provide transport from the main address.

It was emphasised that there was no change to the system of transporting children with Additional Learning Needs in this (Draft) Policy, or to the process of measuring travelling distance to receive free transport.

Reference was made to the two parts in the Policy, noting that there was no change in terms of the statutory requirements to provide education transport that had to be addressed. It was acknowledged that adaptations and changes to the Policy aspects that were discretionary for the Authority, that were being proposed here.

It was stated that this (Draft) Policy would be submitted before the Education and Economy Scrutiny Committee following the consultation.

Observations arising from the discussion:

·       Clarity was sought on the method of measuring travelling distance and the suitability of the roads and walking paths that learners were expected to use to reach school were mentioned. It was confirmed that the distance was measured through a mapping system (GIS) and that it was therefore consistent for every learner. It was added that there was a system to assess the suitability of roads and paths also, and that transport would be provided if the path was unsuitable. Anyone facing barriers in terms of transport should respond to the consultation, so that those comments could be considered.

·       Full support was expressed to the path of this (Draft) Policy, noting that it was a democratic way of adopting the document. The importance of residents responding to this consultation was emphasised.

·       Assurances were given that no impacts on the cost-of-living were anticipated as a result of this (Draft) Policy.

·       It was noted that the (Draft) Policy did not refer in detail to the arrangements of chaperones for ALN learners as this happened via a Panel, in line with the learners' Individual Development Plan.

·       It was asked whether a discussion had been held with the Welsh Government about the Empty Seat Scheme, as it was their guidelines that was forcing the change. It was confirmed that the Government had been consulting on new education transport guidelines, and that the Council had submitted observations in response to that consultation, noting the barriers to offering flexibility in terms of facilitating travel to school. It was added that the Government had not yet reported back on the results of the consultation.