Agenda item

Report from the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment.

Recommendations

1.    That Cabinet approves the Home to School Policy that is attached to this report as Appendix 1. 

Consideration was given to the report which outlined the findings of the review into the Home to School Transport Policy and subsequent consultation and recommended that Cabinet approves the revised Policy. Following a review by Council officers of the existing Policy and the new DfE guidelines published 29 June 2023, a draft Policy was considered by Cabinet on 18 December 2023 and approved to go to public consultation which commenced on the 8

January 2024. The consultation attracted 179 responses to the online survey, with further targeted activities seeking views of stakeholders, parents/carers,

the general public and anyone who may be affected by the Policy, such as schools, other local authorities, taxi/public service vehicle operators, the young people themselves, and groups representing the voices of families, including the Parent Carer Forum. The Policy had been updated with the sections highlighted in yellow and was attached at Appendix 1. The consultation responses were attached at Appendix 2 with the consultation activities at Appendix 3.

Paragraph 2.4 of the report set out the key aspects of the proposed Policy and paragraph 2.5 set out the overarching principles within the new statutory guidance. A number of areas within the proposed Policy received unambiguous support through the consultation and details were provided in paragraph 2.9 of the report.

There were six areas where the consultation feedback required further analysis and consideration:

1.    Zoom Xero Travel Pass eligibility – the Policy was subsequently updated to provide more clarity.

2.    Accompaniment when assessing entitlement – there were no changes to this section following the consultation feedback.

3.    Use of existing resources to include a young person on an established route – there were no changes to this section following the consultation feedback.

4.    Journeys other than home to school – there were no changes to this section following the consultation feedback.

5.    Eligibility for young people post the age of 16 – eligibility had therefore been more clearly defined in Section 10 of the revised Policy and will be further reviewed following the release of updated guidance from the DfE on Post 16 travel arrangements, which is currently under review.

6.    Alternative Provision – the Local Authority was not obliged to provide transport for journeys to/from alternative provision.

Paragraphs 2.11 to 2.15 set out further changes to the Policy following the consultation period.

Resolved:-

1.    That Cabinet approves the Home to School Policy that is attached to the report as Appendix 1.