Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence from Members.

There were no apologies.

To receive information on any changes in the membership of the Committee.

Note – When a member of a Committee is unable to attend a meeting of a Committee or Sub-Committee, the relevant Political Group Leader (or their nominated representative) may, by notice to the Monitoring Officer (or their nominated representative) prior to the meeting, appoint a substitute member from within the same Political Group. The contact details on the front of this agenda should be used for notifications.

There were no substitute members.

Councillors are requested to declare any interests on items included in this agenda. Please refer to the workflow on the preceding page for guidance.

Declarations received will be reported at the meeting.

There were no declarations of interest.

To confirm and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meetings held on 5 and 18 October 2023.

Note: The exempt section of the minutes of 5 October 2023 is also appended as a restricted document.

The minutes of the meetings held on 5 and 18 October 2023 were agreed as a correct record for the Chair to sign.

In relation to the items of business appearing below, the Committee is asked to consider the following resolution: -

‘That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1 and 2 in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Act and that the public interest in withholding the information outweighs such interest in disclosing the information.’

RESOLVED that the Press and Public be excluded for the remaining items of business on the Agenda under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds of the likely disclosure of exempt information, as defined in Paragraphs 1 and 2 in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Act, as the public interest in withholding the information outweighs such interest in disclosing the information.

To seek a decision on whether transport assistance should be provided for the appellants named above outside of usual policy.

Exempt Report as defined in Paragraphs 1 and 2 in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

Exempt information – Category 1 (information relating to any individual) and Category 2 – (information which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual).

Present:

Appellant – Parent of children named in report

Carly Williams – Admissions and Transport Services Team Leader

Jill Holyoake – Clerk, Democratic Services

The Committee considered three appeals against the refusal to provide home to school transport assistance in the form of bus passes, as detailed in the report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix A to these minutes in the Minute Book.

In considering the appeals, the Committee had regard to all the supporting information provided by the Local Authority and the appellant, including the verbal submissions made by the Local Authority and the appellant at the meeting.

RESOLVED that having taken careful note of all the evidence presented by all parties, the appeals in respect of the children named in the report be granted until the end of this academic year or until such time as the family are able to move into more permanent accommodation should this happen before July 2024. Should the family move before July 2024, the School Admissions and Transport Team  must be notified immediately of the change of address.

The Committee decided that although the Home to School Transport Policy had been correctly applied in all three cases, there were exceptional grounds in each case to overturn the original decision upheld by the STAR panel and depart from the Policy on this occasion.

To seek a decision on whether transport should be provided for the appellant named above outside of usual policy.

Exempt Report as defined in Paragraphs 1 and 2 in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

Exempt information – Category 1 (information relating to any individual) and Category 2 – (information which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual).

Present:

Appellant – Parent of child named in report

Carly Williams – Admissions and Transport Services Team Leader

Jill Holyoake – Clerk, Democratic Services

The Committee considered an appeal against the refusal to provide home to school transport assistance in the form of a bus pass, as detailed in the report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix B to these minutes in the Minute Book.

In considering the appeal, the Committee had regard to all the supporting information provided by the Local Authority and the appellant, including the verbal submissions made by the Local Authority and the appellant at the meeting.

RESOLVED that consideration of the appeal in respect of the child named in the report be deferred until the Committee meeting on 11 December 2023 for the reasons set out in the Committee’s letter to the appellant dated 3 November 2023.

To seek a decision on whether transport should be provided for the appellant named above outside of usual policy.

Exempt Report as defined in Paragraphs 1 and 2 in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

Exempt information – Category 1 (information relating to any individual) and Category 2 – (information which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual).

Present:

Appellants – Parents of child named in report

Carly Williams – Admissions and Transport Services Team Leader

Jill Holyoake – Clerk, Democratic Services

The Committee considered an appeal against the refusal to provide home to school transport assistance in the form of a fuel, wear and tear payments, as detailed in the report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix C to these minutes in the Minute Book.

In considering the appeal, the Committee had regard to all the supporting information provided by the Local Authority and the appellants, including the verbal submissions made by the Local Authority and the appellants at the meeting.

RESOLVED that having taken careful note of all the evidence presented by all parties, the appeal in respect of the child named in the report be refused.

The Committee found that the Home to School Transport Policy had been correctly applied and that the child was no longer eligible for transport assistance within the new Policy. While having sympathy for the appellants’ circumstances, the Committee was unable to find exceptional grounds in their submission to overturn the original decision upheld by the STAR panel and depart from the Policy on this occasion.