Issue - meetings

As detailed in the recommendation with the addtion that post 16 transport to Yale College be continued.

The Cabinet Member for Education presented the outcome of the consultation on proposed changes to the discretionary post 16 home to school transport policy. 

Free transport for post 16 students was provided under the existing policy to the nearest educational sites offering the combination of courses that the student wished to follow, which had resulted in recent years in the provision of transport to sites in Cheshire and Lancashire.  The proposals for changing the post 16 transport policy related to reducing the number of sites to which free transport would be provided; no other changes were being proposed.

During the consultation process, 194 responses were received on the proposed changes.  Of those who strongly disagreed with the proposals, a number of the comments showed either a misunderstanding of the proposal or a need for re-assurance or clarification and responses to issues raised were outlined in the report.  Also, there was a Frequently Asked Questions document on the Council’s website and in the Members’ Library.

As a result of the feedback the implications of no longer providing free transport to the current Yale College site in Wrexham were reviewed and it was felt that transport to this site should continue where it was the nearest provider.  This would reduce the efficiency savings originally estimated however monitoring of student numbers throughout the year would take place to ensure efficient use of vehicles.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the proposed changes to the Home to School post 16 transport policy as detailed in paragraph 3.1 of the report be approved; and

(b)       That post 16 transport to Yale College be continued.