Agenda item

To consider a report by the Head of Education (copy enclosed) updating members on the review of Denbighshire’s Home to School Transport Policy and presenting the draft new policy for members’ consideration prior to consultation with stakeholders.

10.15 a.m. – 10.45 a.m.

The Head of Education introduced the report (previously circulated) updating members on the progress to date with the review of the Council’s Home to School Transport Policy.  A copy of the latest revised draft of the policy had been attached to the report for members’ consideration and observations.

The Committee was advised that the majority of legal advice sought on aspects of the policy had been received and the version presented to them had been amended in line with that advice.  The Education Resource and Support Manager highlighted the main changes in the draft policy as outlined in the report, these being –

·         ‘feeder school’ relationships were recognised in the new draft policy.  The current policy only recognised nearest suitable school, and this factor could have a detrimental impact on children being able to stay together at transition to secondary school.  Applications for secondary school transport under the proposed new policy would therefore be assessed on nearest suitable school or whether they had attended a ‘designated primary feeder school’.  Transport on the basis of feeder school would be provided as a discretionary arrangement

·         that the guidance in relation to pick-up points and hazardous routes would be incorporated into the new policy to aid transparency and clarity

·         clarity on discretionary travel provision

·         an extended timescale for the appeals process to ensure that all elements relating to an appeal were properly investigated, and

·         a number of other minor changes throughout the document for strengthening or clarifying purposes.

In response to members’ questions, officers –

·         informed the Committee that the revised policy had been drafted having regard to the requirements of recent legislation, i.e. the Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) Act 2014 and the Wellbeing of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015

·         confirmed that for pupils in the south of the county who attended faith schools, or who wished to access faith based secondary education, their nearest faith based school would be in Wrexham.  They would not be expected to travel to Rhyl

·         advised that they would shortly be looking at improving transport links across county boundaries with a view to exploring whether Denbighshire pupils could utilise transport commissioned by other authorities to transport their pupils to Denbighshire schools, and vice-versa to see if pupils from other counties could travel on Denbighshire commissioned transport to schools outside of the county

·         informed the Committee that the policy’s provisions in relation to designated pick-up points and hazardous routes would require to be applied in a fair and equitable manner, with due regard being given to all considerations presented

·         once the revised policy was approved for consultation every effort would be made to promote the consultation exercise via the media, schools and any other appropriate methods, with a view to attracting maximum stakeholder engagement with the process

·         the Education Service worked closely with the Highways and Environmental Service in relation to monitoring whether school routes could become hazardous during the growing season, particularly those routes in the south of the county that were subject to biodiversity verge cutting.  The safety of the pupils would always be paramount

·         confirmed that the timetable for the new policy’s approval and implementation was as laid out in paragraph 4.5.1. of the report.  However, where able Education Support would apply the same principles to school transport applications received in the interim

·         advised that as part of the consultation exercise on the policy a clear definition would be communicated with respect of the term ‘discretionary transport’, including information on the length of discretionary transport awards, and

·         confirmed that the actual cost of the policy could not be calculated until the consultation phase had concluded and the new policy had received final approval.  It may transpire that the actual cost could be higher than the one which had been budgeted for originally.  Nevertheless, the new policy once implemented would be applied consistently and therefore be equitable to all pupils.  It would keep pupils safe and not contravene any legal duties.  Once the policy received approval provision would need to be made for it within the Service’s budget, including potential ways of securing the most cost effective routes to ensure the policy would be sustainable for the future.

Members acknowledged that the latest draft of the policy was a far better, clearer and more flexible policy than the original.  It recognised and safeguarded the special relationships which had been forged between secondary schools and their ‘feeder primary schools’ and incorporated a fair and independent appeals process for parents and guardians.

Summing up at the conclusion of the discussion the Chair emphasised that the Committee had considered this specific topic on a number of occasions since the decision had been taken to apply the policy robustly.  Whilst there had been a resistance in some areas to its implementation, and a number of anomalies had come to light through the implementation process, he was of the view that Scrutiny and officers had listened to those affected and consequently adapted the policy to reflect the concerns raised, to ensure pupils’ safety and safeguard the good relationships fostered between feeder schools and their designated secondary schools.  The Committee –

RESOLVED that subject to the above observations –

(a)       to support the approach outlined in the new draft policy;

(b)       support progression to the consultation phase, with the Wellbeing Impact Assessment being undertaken beforehand, and

(c)        that a report be presented to the Committee during the summer of 2017 detailing the results and findings of the consultation exercise on the draft policy, and that the report include information on the proposed re-aligned school routes.