To report on the results of the consultation exercise initiated by Cabinet together with the accompanying Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) regarding the proposed change to the Council’s Learner Travel policy, to assist Cabinet in determining whether or not it will progress with the proposals, and if implemented how the proposal would contribute to the overall saving to the Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy to 2018/19.

 

The Corporate Director Education and Transformation submitted a report on the results of the consultation exercise initiated by Cabinet together with the accompanying Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) regarding the proposed change to the Council’s Learner Travel policy, to assist Cabinet in determining whether or not it will progress with the proposals, and if implemented how the proposal would contribute to the overall saving to the Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy to 2018/19. 

 

In the Council’s current Learner Travel Policy, Bridgend County Borough Council uses its discretionary powers to provide free transport for:-

 

·        primary and nursery aged children, residing more than 1.5 miles from the  nearest suitable school (normally defined as their catchment area school);

·        secondary aged children residing more than 2 miles from the nearest suitable school (normally defined as their catchment area school);

·         post-16 learners, subject to the 2 mile limit;

·        all learners attending VA schools (subject to existing limits), regardless of whether the school is the nearest suitable school.

 

She confirmed that Section 6 of the Measure provides local authorities with the power to provide discretionary transport arrangements for learners who are not attending their nearest suitable school because of language preference.  Furthermore, in cases where learners do not attend the nearest suitable school, local authorities can use their discretion to provide free transport to Welsh Medium schools regardless of the distance criteria in order to promote access to education and training through the medium of Welsh.

 

Section 6 of the Measure also gave local authorities the power to make any arrangement they think fit to facilitate the travel of learners to and from a place where they receive education or training. The power applies in relation to a learner living or studying in the authority’s area.

 

The next Section of the report confirmed the national picture in Wales in respect   of Learner travel provision in local authorities, which portrayed that BCBC’s current provision was one of the most supportive in Wales along with Caerphilly and RCT County Borough Councils.

 

Paragraph 3.20 then outlined the financial case for change, in that the local authority had to make some changes to the Policy under savings aligned to the MTFS.

 

The next section of the report then outlined Cabinet decisions that had been made to date, and details of an initial evaluation exercise from which arose 3 proposals to move forward with as part of a consultation exercise. The consultation proposals also included community engagement workshops she added.

 

The Corporate Director Education and Transformation then advised of a further consultation exercise that subsequently took place, arising from which came three proposals and these were detailed in paragraph 3.55 of the report.

 

The Corporate Director Education and Transformation then alluded to the following Sections of the report:-

 

a)    Guidance received from the Children’s Commissioner for Wales

b)    Conformity with BCBC’s Consultation and Engagement Guidelines

c)    Conformity with the National Principles for Public Engagement in Wales

d)    Conformity to the National Children and Young People’s Participation Standards for Wales

e)    Conformity with Paragraph 12 of the Children and Families (Wales) Measure 2010

f)     Conformity with the Rights of Children and Young Persons (Wales) Measure 2011

 

The Corporate Director Education and Transformation then outlined a summary of the Consultation Responses as expressed in paragraphs 4 of the report which gave rise to three main Proposals for change, and she went through these including the advantages and disadvantages attached to adopting any of these, including any impact on faith based and Welsh medium education provision.

 

The next section of the report referred to the response made by the Children and Young People O&SC, following which she reminded Cabinet to note that there are a range of possible mitigations that the local authority could put in place to address the concerns that had been outlined in the public consultation in relation to all 3 proposals that had been put forward.

 

The Corporate Director Education and Transformation then outlined an evaluation of all the issues raised on each of the Proposals and the local authorities responses to these.

 

The Leader and the Deputy Leader in turn, commended the amount of work that had gone into the very comprehensive report that was before Members. All aspects of this important issue had been very closely investigated before the proposals had been carefully considered and narrowed down into feasible options. The Leader stated that he hoped that the outcomes had been met with understanding and approval from the constituents of the County Borough.

 

The Deputy Leader added that he had attended one of the Community Engagement Workshops in Porthcawl, and emphasised that the design of this had been effective and that Officers who attended it took time to speak to members of the public who attended this, on a one to one basis. There had also been close engagement with all the various stakeholders including children and young people who would be affected by the changes, and the relevant Overview and Scrutiny Committee. This had resulted in the local authority both listening and responding to some of the important issues that had been raised as part of the consultation exercises.

 

He emphasised that the Council had taken some positive steps in that it had made some changes to those originally proposed with regard to Learner travel arrangements for Voluntary Aided Schools, and protection in terms of continuation of transport provision for those siblings of children who were being taught at the school, who had not yet started at the school but would start there before their older siblings had finished at the school. He further added that paying places for transport provision would be pursued not on a full cost recovery basis as originally proposed, but paid for places would continue to be subsidised to reduce the impact on parents.

 

There would also be provided, a range of different payment options to parents who may in the past have struggled to pay this in the form of one total payment.

 

Finally, it was proposed not to withdraw free Post 16 transport to college and schools, due to the strategic review of education including Post 16 provision in the County Borough, which was underway, and because of the concerns expressed about the potential impact on the viability of Post 16 provision in the Welsh Medium Secondary School and the Catholic High School, due to the potential for parents and students to choose closer local English Medium Secondary schools. 

 

There would also be increased viability options for Post 16 students and those being taught Welsh medium education, as there would be in the only Catholic secondary school situate within the County Borough.

 

The Cabinet Member Children’s Social Services and Equalities raised concerns over the issue of there being a Safe Route to School being provided at all schools where pupils may have to walk there (or part of the way) should there be no option of transport being provided for them to these schools, and if this was not the case, then consideration should be given to a review of these routes being undertaken. She also asked if sufficient resources were available to ensure all Safe Routes to Schools are up to the required standard.

 

The Corporate Director Education and Transformation advised that the above had been looked into as part of the review, adding that it was a statutory responsibility of a local authority to provide a Safe Route to School if transport provision was not being provided for certain pupils who were attending that school.

 

The Cabinet Member Regeneration and Economic Development added that more active travelling arrangements could also be examined, for example cycling to school.

 

The Cabinet Member Communities further added that Rhondda Cynon Taf were also looking at reviewing their Learner Travel Policy, and there could be scope he felt, to look at some of the outcomes they were pursuing, including any possible partnership arrangement ensuing in due course. He further added that a Hardship Fund was in place to protect local families, and he stated that he would like this to be possibly reviewed in due course.

 

The Cabinet Member Resources stated that even though the changes proposed in the report had been finalised, there would be a phased approach to these being implemented. Therefore, the savings that the Council were required to make in this service area, would not be fully realised for some several years.

 

The Leader concluded debate on this item by asking Officers if Bridgend College could possibly assist in the support of transport provision for Post 16 students.

 

      RESOLVED:     That Cabinet:-

 

1.               Approved the changes to the current Learner Travel Policy to bring it in line with minimum statutory requirements, realising savings of £67,092 in 2016/17 rising to £776,550 by 2023/24. This would mean that the qualifying distance for free primary school transport would change from 1.5 miles to 2 miles and the qualifying distance for free secondary transport would change from 2 miles to 3 miles.  This will also apply to Welsh-medium and voluntary aided schools and will include Post-16 students. Pupils who currently receive free transport will maintain their entitlement until they transition to the next stage of their education. The change in policy will also include support for families through ensuring siblings attending the same school will receive the same level of transport entitlement.  If a child maintains free transport at the lower threshold of 1.5/2miles then any sibling starting the same school whilst the elder sibling is still there will also receive the same entitlement. The policy will be introduced in September 2016.

 

2.               Approved the cost of a paying place at £1.90 per day for all school pupils (including post-16 students) which is £361 per annum, rather than full cost recovery.  This equates to an increase of 33.7%, realising £4,367. The increase to the cost of a paying place will be introduced from September 2016 and will be reviewed on an annual basis.

 

3.               In line with current proposals regarding the strategic review of the school curriculum and estate, agreed that no decision is made regarding proposal 3 (to withdraw free post-16 transport to school and college students), leaving an estimated budget shortfall of £529,000 for 2016/17.