Agenda and draft minutes

To elect a Member to Chair the meeting.

Resolved:  That John Thompson, Head of Secondary and Skills, be elected to Chair the meeting.

It was noted that due to the current national emergency, the Council was unable to convene a Panel of Elected Members and the Applicant was consulted and confirmed her agreement to this Appeal Hearing being considered by three Senior Officers who are all independent of the Home to School Transport function.

To consider excluding the public and press from the meeting during consideration of agenda item 5  (Home to School Transport Appeal) on the grounds that it contains information relating to an individual and which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual. This information is classed as exempt under Paragraphs 1 & 2 of Schedule 12A to Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to information) (Variation) Order 2006.

Resolved:  That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of Agenda Item 5 (Home to School Transport Appeal), on the grounds that it contained information relating to individuals and which was likely to reveal the identity of individuals.  This information was classed as exempt under Paragraphs 1 and 2 of Schedule 12A to Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006.

Members are asked to declare:

·        Any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests

·        Any prejudicial interests or

·        Any disclosable pecuniary interests

which they may have in respect of business on this agenda.

The Panel were asked to declare any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests, any prejudicial interests or any disclosable pecuniary interests which they may have in respect of business on the agenda. None were declared.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 26 June 2019.

Resolved:  It was agreed that the minutes of the meeting held on 26 June 2019 would not be approved at this meeting.

To consider an appeal for assistance with home to school transport.

The Panel considered an appeal from a parent against the local authority’s decision not to provide home to school transport for their child.

The parent had been invited to attend but had indicated that they did not wish to do so. The Panel were satisfied that the parent had been appropriately provided with the time and date of the hearing and that they had been given an opportunity to attend.  The Education Officer attended to present the local authority’s case.

The Panel carefully considered all the evidence presented verbally at the meeting and by both parties in the agenda papers.

Resolved:  That the appeal not be upheld.

Reason:     There were no exceptional circumstances to warrant a departure from normal policy in this case.