Issue - meetings

Cabinet had before them a report that contained an analysis of the responses to a consultation with the public, head teachers and other interested parties upon a number of proposed changes to the Home to School Transport Policy. Cabinet further had a note from the Chairman of the Education Scrutiny Committee containing recommendations following consideration of the proposals at their meeting on 4 July 2013 and a further supplementary report containing an update on the analysis of consultation responses in the light of responses received since the circulation of the agenda. Finally Cabinet had before them a supplementary report advising that the new Guidance which had been the basis of consultation had now been withdrawn by the Department for Education and the previous 2007 Guidance reinstated and that therefore it was inappropriate to consider the proposals today.

Peter Clark, County Solicitor confirmed the advice given in the supplementary report no decision on the current proposals be taken today.

Councillor Hudspeth indicated that he would be accepting the advice given but that in any case he had been minded to defer the matter following the letters and emails that he had received and other representations made to him by councillors and the public. He accepted that there would be a need to repeat the consultation and that he did not wish to rush this decision. However he referred to the serious financial challenge that the Council faced and that the whole budget was being considered to see where the savings could be achieved.  He noted that the proposals had been in line with the then current guidance, had not affected anyone currently in receipt of free transport and that the majority of parents were not affected. His ambition was that all schools in Oxfordshire would be good or excellent and that there would be no reason not to go to the local school. He referred to a number of existing anomalies, stressed that he would meet with residents and that he had an open mind.

Mrs Nelson, St Swithens CE Primary School, Kennington resident, parent and Chair of Governors submitted a petition against the proposals and in speaking to the petition highlighted 5 areas of concern: she wished Kennington to maintain the diverse social cohorts it currently achieved that she felt would be threatened by the changes to the policy; child safety - it was impractical to expect parents to walk with their children each day; congestion would increase; there were educational concerns and concerns around social equality.

Councillor Lynda Atkins, as Chairman of the Education Scrutiny Committee highlighted the key points set out in her note of the discussion at the meeting on 4 July 2013.

Councillor George Reynolds, speaking as a local councillor expressed concerns over the length of the consultation and the range of people consulted. Parish Councils had not been consulted directly and more information was needed on what the proposals meant to people. He also highlighted the possible implications for the villages, parents, children and schools  ...  view the full minutes text for item 77