Decision details

There is a legal requirement that the County Council publishes a Home to School Transport Policy in accordance with the Education School Information Regulations 2008 (Regulation 8.) The regulation requires that local authorities publish all relevant information no later than six weeks before the closing date for secondary school applications which is 31 October each year.

In November 2015, there was a Council decision to withdraw the current transport subsidy for pupils attending a faith school where there is a nearer school to their home. A consultation took place in the Spring Term 2016 and the results are included within the report. The decision was taken not to remove the subsidy from September 2017.

This decision is urgent and cannot await the next meeting of the Cabinet on 15^th June 2017, the reason for this is that the consultation period must commence before the next meeting of the Cabinet in order for it to be completed before school summer holidays commence in July 2017.

County Councillor Albert Atkinson, the Deputy Leader of the County Council and County Councillor Susie Charles, the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Schools agreed to undertake a further public consultation on a proposal to cease the provision of discretionary denominational transport subsidies with effect from 1 September 2018 for all pupils commencing at primary or secondary school.

This decision should be implemented immediately for the purposes of Standing Order 34(3) as any delay could adversely affect the execution of the County Council's responsibilities. The reason for this the further consultation period must commence as soon as possible in order to be completed before school summer holidays commence in July 2017.