Agenda item

This report presents proposals to review provision of home to school transport, following decisions taken to reduce the home to school transport budget.

Resolved:  That Executive approve:

(i)      Paragraph 11 (b) of the report, to continue to provide a dedicated home to school transport service to Manor CE Academy for eligible pupils until July 2017, with non-eligible pupils having the option to purchase a concessionary seat at the current cost of £380. 

and :

·                   That Manor CE Academy will contribute £13,280 (50% of the shortfall between the cost of the seat and the concessionary fare for non-eligible pupils) towards this service;

·                   That from September 2017 City of York Council will no longer provide dedicated home to school bus services to Manor CE Academy;

·                   That parent/carers and the school will have16 months to consider alternative arrangements to get pupils to and from school. The Local Authority will provide advice and support in this process.

(i)           The option as set out in paragraph 18(a) of the report - to continue to provide a dedicated home to school bus service to St Wilfrid’s RC Primary School for both eligible and non eligible pupils (who will pay a concessionary fare) for 2016/17 but withdraw the dedicated home to school bus service from July 2017, replacing it with the offer of a mileage allowance to parent/carers of eligible pupils. 

(ii)          The option as set out in paragraph 24 (b) of the report - To begin consultation on implementing Personalised Transport Budgets (PTB’s) at an enhanced rate for all Special Educational Need Post -16 and 19-25 young people who are eligible for assistance with transport, on a rolling programme from September 2016 onwards.  This would achieve savings of £32,812 for the 2016/17 financial year, based on 50% of eligible young people being transferred to PTB’s from September 2016. 

Reason:      (i)     This option will provide savings of £24,346 for the 2016/17 financial year and will maintain the current provision of the dedicated home to school bus services for both eligible and non-eligible pupils.

(ii)          This will ensure provision of transport for eligible pupils but will achieve a saving of £5,220 for the 2016/17 financial year and £16,000 for the 2017/18 financial year. 

(iii)        To maintain support for transport for these students but enable a reduction in expenditure. 

Consideration was give to a report which presented proposals for revision of home to school transport to:

·        Manor CE Academy

·        St Wilfrid’s RC Primary School and

·        Withdrawal of post 16 and 19-25 SEN transport

Officers referred to the report recommendations, in particular, to (i) - the withdrawal of dedicated home to school bus services to and from Manor CE Academy. In view of representations received  and discussions undertaken, since publication of the agenda, it was proposed to continue to provide a dedicated home to school transport service for eligible pupils until 2017 in order allow parents and the school to consider alternative arrangements.

The Executive Member thanked Officers and the Head of Manor Academy for work on the revised recommendation. With regard to earlier speakers comments she highlighted the authorities statutory duty to provide free home to school transport for eligible pupils.

In answer to Members questions Officers confirmed that full consultation would be undertaken with parents/carers of those eligible for a Personalised Transport Budget and that any changes in their circumstance would result in a review of the arrangements. Officers also confirmed that timescales in relation to the implementation of the new arrangements would be provided.

Resolved:  That Executive approve:

(i)      Paragraph 11 (b) of the report, to continue to provide a dedicated home to school transport service to Manor CE Academy for eligible pupils until July 2017, with non-eligible pupils having the option to purchase a concessionary seat at the current cost of £380. 

and :

·                   That Manor CE Academy will contribute £13,280 (50% of the shortfall between the cost of the seat and the concessionary fare for non-eligible pupils) towards this service;

·                   That from September 2017 City of York Council will no longer provide dedicated home to school bus services to Manor CE Academy;

·                   That parent/carers and the school will have16 months to consider alternative arrangements to get pupils to and from school. The Local Authority will provide advice and support in this process. ^1.

(ii)          The option as set out in paragraph 18(a) of the report - to continue to provide a dedicated home to school bus service to St Wilfrid’s RC Primary School for both eligible and non eligible pupils (who will pay a concessionary fare) for 2016/17 but withdraw the dedicated home to school bus service from July 2017, replacing it with the offer of a mileage allowance to parent/carers of eligible pupils.  ^2.

(iii)        The option as set out in paragraph 24 (b) of the report - To begin consultation on implementing Personalised Transport Budgets (PTB’s) at an enhanced rate for all Special Educational Need Post -16 and 19-25 young people who are eligible for assistance with transport, on a rolling programme from September 2016 onwards.  This would achieve savings of £32,812 for the 2016/17 financial year, based on 50% of eligible young people being transferred to PTB’s from September 2016.  ^3.

Reason:      (i)     This option will provide savings of £24,346 for the 2016/17 financial year and will maintain the current provision of the dedicated home to school bus services for both eligible and non-eligible pupils.

(ii)          This will ensure provision of transport for eligible pupils but will achieve a saving of £5,220 for the 2016/17 financial year and £16,000 for the 2017/18 financial year. 

(iii)        To maintain support for transport for these students but enable a reduction in expenditure.