AGENDA ITEM

LEARNING OVERVIEW GROUP

1 JULY 2003 AT 7.00PM

COMMITTEE SUITE, CIVIC CENTRE, POOLE

REPORT OF THE HEAD OF PUPIL AND PARENT SUPPORT SERVICES

ON CHARGES LEVIED FOR CONCESSINARY AND 6TH FORM TRANSPORT

1.PURPOSE OF THE REPORT

1.1To review the charges levied for concessionary and sixth form transport. It should be noted that all charges are waived for families in receipt of means tested benefits.

2.BACKGROUND

2.1“Section 46(1) of the Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981 allows pupils who do not qualify for free transport under Section SC(1) to travel at a charge in any spare seats available in school buses or other vehicles used to carry persons who do so qualify.” (Guidance document issued by the Department for Education in January 1994).

2.2“5O9

(1) A local education authority shall make such arrangements for the provision of transport and otherwise as they consider necessary, or as the Secretary of State may direct, for the purpose of facilitating the attendance of persons receiving education . . .

(3) A local education authority may pay the whole or any part, as they think fit, of the reasonable travelling expenses of any person receiving education . . . for whose transport no arrangements are made under subsection (1)” (Education Act 1996).

2.3The 2003/2004 home to school transport budget is £1,363,000 and the 2003/2004 home to college transport budget is £51,000. Income from charges for 2002/2003 was £8,021 for sixth form transport and £6,840 for concessionary home to school transport.

2.4These charges were previously reviewed and increased in 2001.

3.FOR INFORMATION

3.1Examples of other Local Authority charges:

Kent £125 per term

Thurock £50 per term

Derbyshire £55 per term

4.CURRENT CHARGES

4.1For sixth form transport£190 (per annum)

(This can be paid in 2 instalments of

£95)

4.2Other transport£38 per term

5.ISSUES TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT

5.1On average nationally home to school transport costs rose by 14.1% in the year to October 2002.

5.2The Fundamental Performance Review report on Education transport reported that the unit cost of transport provision is increasing at a rate substantially over the rate of inflation.

5.3There are currently 107 sixth form or college students who

receive transport assistance.

5.4There are currently 74 pupils who receive concessionary

transport assistance.

5.5Based on historical data, approximately 50% of these are likely

to be exempt from any charges.

6.OPTIONS

6.1For sixth form transport

An increase of 15% would be £218.50

10% would be £209.00

5% would be £199.50

6.2For other transport

An increase of 15% would be £43.70

10% would be £41.80

5% would be £39.90

7.RECOMMENDATIONS

7.1That Members make a recommendation to Cabinet as to

whether the charges levied for sixth form and concessionary transport should be increased, and if so by what percentage.

PAUL TAYLOR

HEAD OF PUPIL & PARENT SUPPORT

OFFICER CONTACT:

LINDA GIBBS (Tel: 261939)

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Transport.LOG.13.06.03