Agenda and minutes

Resolved to note that an apology was received from Councillor Shacklock for this meeting.

The chair invited those present who wished to do so to make a declaration of interest.

Resolved to note that no declarations were made.

The report of the Executive Director of Customer and Governance/Monitoring Officer was received to report on the terms of reference for the Place and Environment Scrutiny Committee.

The Head of Democratic Services, Ben Smith, presented the report to the committee.

This detailed the need for a focused and effective scrutiny to ensure that the Executive was held to account and that key decisions were made in an appropriate way.  There was a requirement for scrutiny to be focused and effective particularly around policy making, and efficiency of delivery of services to the public.

Changes to scrutiny were approved by full Council on 30 March 2023 with the Place and Environment Scrutiny Committee being formed with the terms of reference for the committee being appended to this report.

Members considered that the new scrutiny arrangements would improve the scrutiny function of the council and noted that there would be a considerable amount of work being undertaken by all the scrutiny committees in the coming months.

The chair and officer clarified that the Scrutiny Management Board would put together a programme of works in the coming weeks. There would also be scrutiny training for Members in September.

Resolved that:

(i)             the new scrutiny arrangements came into effect from May 2023;

(ii)           the terms of reference for this committee be noted.

The report of the Executive Director, Place and Economy was received in relation to seek a decision on potential changes to the current Home to School Transport arrangements Policy.

Rachel Mawson, Transport Delivery Manager, presented further details of the current scheme and policy, along with the findings of a recent consultation.

The Executive Director, Graeme Kane, presented the report to committee and explained that the council is required to arrange free, suitable, home to school transport for children of compulsory school age, who are eligible, to their nearest suitable qualifying school in accordance with section 508B of the Education Act 1996 and the Government’s statutory guidance.

The arrangements must be published in an annual policy by mid-September each year, to enable parents applying for places at secondary school to consider any transport related matters prior to making their school choice.

A public consultation exercise was undertaken to enable the council to consider changes to the discretionary elements of the policy. The outcome of the consultation was appended to the report, along with the Home to School Transport mainstream demand for 2023, the current Home to School Policy and the Home to School Travel and Transport Guidance 2014.

Transport is currently provided for 4133 mainstream students to and from 54 schools daily throughout the school term.  This is made up of 3989 students of statutory age, 3694 students who are entitled to free home to school transport and 295 students who purchase a discretionary seat. In additional 173 students use the Home to School transport service under the post 16 policy. The arrangements offered must be free of charge to the parent of an eligible child.

If a child is not eligible for free transport, the council may use discretionary powers to provide transport. The council may charge for transport provided under these powers.

The consultation survey was to seek opinion on potential changes to the Home to School Transport Policy for students and pupils of statutory school age (5 to 16) and primarily considered the discretionary element of home to school transport, which costs the council in excess of £538,000 per year.  Some of the cost is recouped by charging up to £600 for each available seat, around £265,00 per annum.

The changes put forward included:

1.    The format and language used in the policy document;

2.    Substantive changes to the entitlement to free and discretionary transport

(a)  Ceasing to provide free transport to linked schools unless it is the nearest suitable school with places. This would comply with legislation.

(b)  Making changes to the provision of discretionary transport with options to include:

·         The withdrawal of all discretionary transport (all age groups);

·         The withdrawal of all discretionary transport for post 16 only;

·         Ceasing the guarantee of a ‘spare seat’ for those applying early;

·         Increasing fares to recoup more of the expenditure and cease the undercutting of the commercial market.

The changes consulted on were focused on mainstream provision where entitlement is primarily based upon walking distance to the nearest suitable  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

The chair thanked the committee for their attendance and closed the meeting at 9.35pm.