This Council notes the Home to School Transport Policy for Special Needs Children and in particular Annex A; Transport Guidance for young people aged 16-18 in Further Education and Continuing Students aged 19 – May 2011.

Council notes the withdrawal of School Transport to some of the 16 plus special needs teenage cohort attending Brentwood School in September this year, and further notes under the existing policy that this is the first year that the parents and carers of 16 plus teenagers attending Brentwood have had to apply for continuing transport. Indeed up until the Review of Transport Provision undertaken in May 2015 the parents and carers of pupils reaching the age of 16 were not asked to re-apply for travel assistance as long as they had been deemed eligible when starting school. This measure has caused considerable distress to the teenagers and families concerned, who are the parents of some of our most vulnerable children.

This Council notes the lack of meaningful consultation that has taken place with those affected by this policy change and therefore resolves with immediate effect to reinstate Transport to all the teenagers from whom the service has been withdrawn, and enter into meaningful consultation with Parents and Carers over future provision in a wholly open and transparent manner.

(Note: The Mayor, Councillor Holden declared a personal interest in this item since he was a Governor of Brentwood School and remained in the meeting during consideration of the matter.)

It was moved and seconded that:

“This Council notes the Home to School Transport Policy for Special Needs Children and in particular Annex A; Transport Guidance for young people aged 16-18 in Further Education and Continuing Students aged 19 – May 2011.

Council notes the withdrawal of School Transport to some of the 16 plus special needs teenage cohort attending Brentwood School in September this year, and further notes under the existing policy that this is the first year that the parents and carers of 16 plus teenagers attending Brentwood have had to apply for continuing transport. Indeed up until the Review of Transport Provision undertaken in May 2015 the parents and carers of pupils reaching the age of 16 were not asked to re-apply for travel assistance as long as they had been deemed eligible when starting school. This measure has caused considerable distress to the teenagers and families concerned, who are the parents of some of our most vulnerable children.

This Council notes the lack of meaningful consultation that has taken place with those affected by this policy change and therefore resolves with immediate effect to reinstate Transport to all the teenagers from whom the service has been withdrawn, and enter into meaningful consultation with Parents and Carers over future provision in a wholly open and transparent manner.”

It was moved and seconded as an amendment that:

“This Council notes the Home to School Transport Policy for Special Needs Children and in particular Annex A; Transport Guidance for young people aged 16-18 in Further Education and Continuing Students aged 19 – May 2011.

Council notes the changes to provision outlined for the cohort attending Brentwood School, including withdrawal of transport for a small number of pupils aged post 16 no longer eligible under the revised policy and the need to re-apply for transport provision annually. 

The Council is aware that changes to provision of this nature may cause distress to families and young people who previously accessed the service however continues to target its reducing resources as best it can to support those who are eligible for transport provision across the Borough.

This Council is presently consulting on an All Age Travel Assistance policy as part of the 2016/17 budget round, and recognises that some concern has been raised on previous consultation.  

The Council resolves to consider carefully all responses received in a wholly open and transparent manner, including consideration on the merits or otherwise of reinstatement of transport provision.”

Following a debate on the matter, the amendment was put to the vote and in accordance with Procedure Rule 16.5 a recorded vote was called for. This resulted as follows:

Those in favour of the amendment: Councillors S.A. Anstee, S.K. Anstee, Dr. Barclay, Miss Blackburn, Boyes, Mrs. Bruer-Morris, Bunting, Butt, Candish, Cawdrey, Chilton, Cornes, Coupe, Mrs.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 63