Issue - meetings

“This Council believes that children with SEND should not have their transport to and from schools and associated activities cut.  This Transport enhances their lives and enables their parents to work and contribute to the economy.

The Council asks the Director for Children’s Services to consider, with the affected Schools’ Heads and other interested parties, this issue in order to come up with other options to curtail these costs rather than withdrawing provision from these vulnerable children and their families. Such options to include working with schools to maximise the use of the maintenance grants and looking at alternative procurement practices including better use of the integrated transport service.

The results of this work to be considered by the Education Scrutiny Committee as part of their policy development role before being determination at Cabinet. Any shortfall in the budget to be funded from reserves until such time as all the options have been considered.

The recent changes to the home to school transport policy be deferred until these alternative options have been diligently pursued and evaluated.”

With the Consent of Council, Councillor Liz Brighouse moved an alteration to her Motion as shown in bold italics/strikethrough below:

ThisCouncil believes that children withSEND should nothave theirtransport to andfrom schoolsand associatedactivities cut. This Transportenhances theirlivesand enablestheir parentsto workand contributeto the economy.

TheCouncil asksthe Directorfor Children's Services toconsider,with theaffected Schools'Heads and otherinterestedparties, thisissuein order tocome up withother optionsto curtailthese costsrather thanwithdrawingprovision fromthese vulnerable children andtheir families.Such options toincludeworking withschools tomaximise theuse ofthe maintenance grantsand looking at alternativeprocurement -practicesincluding better useof theintegratedtransport service.

· Theresults ofthis workto be consideredby the EducationScrutiny Committee·as partof theirpolicydevelopment role beforebeing determinationat CabinetCouncil endorses theuse ofAny shortfallin thebudget tobe fundedfromreserves in theeventofany shortfallintheBudgetuntilsuchtimeas all theoptions havebeen considered.

Cabinetis requestedtodefer implementationofthe recent changesto thehometo schooltransport policyuntil·these alternativeoptionshavebeen diligentlypursued and_evaluated."

The motion as amended was carried by 51 votes to 0, with 7 abstentions.

With the Consent of Council, Councillor Liz Brighouse moved and Councillor Waine an alteration to her Motion as shown in bold italics/strikethrough below:

“This Councilbelieves thatchildren withSEND should nothave theirtransport to andfrom schoolsand associatedactivities cut. This Transportenhances theirlivesand enablestheir parentsto workand contributeto the economy.

TheCouncil asksthe Directorfor Children's Services toconsider,with theaffected Schools'Heads and otherinterestedparties, thisissuein order tocome up withother optionsto curtailthese costsrather thanwithdrawingprovision fromthese vulnerable children andtheir families.Such options toincludeworking withschools tomaximise theuse ofthe maintenance grantsand looking at alternativeprocurement -practicesincluding better useof theintegratedtransport service.

· Theresults ofthis workto be consideredby the EducationScrutiny Committee·as partof theirpolicydevelopment role beforebeing determinationat CabinetCouncil endorses theuse ofAny shortfallin thebudget tobe fundedfromreserves in theeventofany shortfallintheBudgetuntilsuchtimeas all theoptions havebeen considered.

Cabinetis requestedtodefer implementationofthe recent changesto thehometo schooltransport policyuntil·these alternativeoptionshavebeen diligentlypursued and_evaluated."

Following debate, the motion as amended was put to the vote and was carried by 51 votes to 0, with 7 abstentions.

RESOLVED: (by 51 to 0, with 7 abstentions)

“This Councilbelieves thatchildren withSEND should nothave theirtransport to andfrom schoolsand associatedactivities cut. This Transportenhances theirlivesand enablestheir parentsto workand contributeto the economy.

TheCouncil asksthe Directorfor Children's Services toconsider,with theaffected Schools'Heads and otherinterestedparties, thisissuein order tocome up withother optionsto curtailthese costsrather thanwithdrawingprovision fromthese vulnerable children andtheir families.Such options toincludeworking withschools tomaximise theuse ofthe maintenance grantsand looking at alternativeprocurement -practicesincluding better useof theintegratedtransport service.

Theresults ofthis workto be consideredby the EducationScrutiny Committee·as partof theirpolicydevelopment role beforebeing determinationat CabinetCouncil endorsesthe useof reservesin theeventof any shortfallin theBudgetuntilsuchtimeas all theoptions havebeen considered.

Cabinetis requestedto defer implementationofthe recent changesto thehometo schooltransport policyuntil·these alternativeoptionshavebeen diligentlypursued and_evaluated."

Following debate, the motion as amended was put to the vote and was carried by 51 votes to 0, with 7 abstentions.