Issue - meetings

BCP Council is legally required to have a single home to school transport policy. A BCP Council Policy has been drafted to replace the three existing policies. The draft policy has been developed to ensure consistency across the conurbation. It will provide a single point of reference for families and officers regarding eligibility and how it is assessed.

Permission to publicly consult in January-February 2022 is being sought from cabinet. The consultation will be held in accordance with the requirements of the Department for Education’s statutory guidance. Key stakeholders will be targeted during the consultation period.

RESOLVED that Cabinet: -

(a)     agrees for officers to go out to public consultation on the draft Home to School Transport policy; and

(b)    delegates authority to the Director of Education, Children’s Services to commission a public consultation of the draft policy.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Council Priorities and Delivery

Reason

The Council is legally required to have a home to school transport policy. A single policy will provide one point of reference for families and officers when requesting and agreeing transport assistance.

The Portfolio Holder for Council Priorities and Delivery presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'F' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet was informed that BCP Council is legally required to have a single home to school transport policy, and that a BCP Council Policy had been drafted to replace the three existing policies.

In relation to this Cabinet was advised that the draft policy has been developed to ensure consistency across the conurbation, and that it will provide a single point of reference for families and officers regarding eligibility and how it is assessed.

Cabinet was advised that permission to publicly consult in January-February 2022 is being sought from cabinet, and that the consultation will be held in accordance with the requirements of the Department for Education’s statutory guidance, with key stakeholders being targeted during the consultation period.

RESOLVED that Cabinet: -

(a)     agrees for officers to go out to public consultation on the draft Home to School Transport policy; and

(b)    delegates authority to the Director of Education, Children’s Services to commission a public consultation of the draft policy.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Council Priorities and Delivery