Decision details

Key Decision identified as Home to School and Adults Social Care Travel Assistance Policies for Consultation in the Notice of Key Decisions published on 14 August 2019.

Councillor S A W Reynolds, Cabinet Member: Children, Young People & Education presented the joint report of the Assistant Directors: Education and Corporate Parenting, Adult Social Care and Customer & Neighbourhood Services which sought approval to commence a formal consultation process in respect of proposals to refresh the Home to School Transport Policy and introduce an Adult Social Care Travel Assistance Policy

The proposed updated and new policies focussed on the Council’s statutory duty to provide travel assistance. The main changes were:

·                     eligibility criteria and assessment process had been made clearer;

·                     all options available for travel assistance had been listed;

·                     there was a clear appeals process for all age groups; and

·                     it covered areas where the Council may charge for services.

The objective of all the Council’s travel assistance polices was to enable people to have more choice and control by accessing general travel services where possible. The Council’s current transport service was a traditional model which encouraged dependency through the provision of transport for people from door to door. The proposed policies were attached as appendices to report.  There was a statutory requirement for the Council to publish a Post 16 Travel Assistance Policy every year in May and the current year’s policy was also attached to the report for reference purposes.

In drafting the proposals, the Council had considered the lessons learned both from councils which had completed their processes and also paid due regard to lessons from the latest Local Government Ombudsman reports into school transport decisions, best and local practice for Post 16 travel, and for adults with links into ‘think local and act personal’ .

The proposed policies would relate to a large number of borough residents and so it was essential there was sufficient time for meaningful consultation. The Council would commence consultation for the Home to School Travel Assistance Policy on 26 September 2019 until 15 November 2019.

The proposed timing of the Council’s consultation would ensure that families and carers had a chance to review and comment on the policy as they were making decisions regarding primary and secondary school applications.  However,  was noted that Government had recently launched a consultation on its Home to School Travel and Transport which ended on 31st October 2019 after which the Government would need to respond to that consultation and finalise the statutory guidance with its outcomes by spring 2020.  This guidance would need to be incorporated into Council policy but if the changes were significant, this might mean the Council’s policies would not align with the guidance and therefore, re-consultation might be necessary. 

Consultation for the Adult Social Care Travel Assistance Policy and Post 16 Travel Assistance would commence on 4th November 2019 until 16th December 2019.

This two phased consultation approach would allow for sufficient resource to be available to support full and meaningful engagement with children and their parents/carers, adults and their carers, schools, day centres, voluntary organisations, partners, commercial services and all residents of the borough.

The indicative timetable for consultation and final policy approval was set out at appendix C to the report. The timetable would see the Travel Assistance Policies in place by spring 2020. 

The Council also proposed to undertake a review of all public and private passenger transport services following the consultation exercise.  The review would consider the current and future needs of residents in the borough and how these could be supported by an environmentally sustainable and cost effective service.

Members commended the report which sought to offer greater flexibility and promoted independence.  The proposed review of the Council’s wider strategy in terms of fleet management and partnerships was also welcomed.

RESOLVED that –

(a)  the consultation process for the revised Home to School Transport Policy as set out at Appendix A to the report be approved;

(b)  the consultation process for an Adult Social Care Travel Assistance Policy, as set out at Appendix B to the report, and for Post 16 Travel Assistance to start in November 2019 be approved; and

(c)  a review of all Council’s transport services, following the outcome of consultation, to ensure the modes of transport used to transport service users and customers can demonstrate value for money and fitness for purpose be approved.