AGENDA ITEM 6
BOROUGH OF POOLE
LEARNING OVERVIEW GROUP
On 16 March 2004
REPORT OF ACTING HEAD OF PUPIL AND PARENT SUPPORT
ON OUTCOME OF CONSULTATION REGARDING THE PROVISION OF FREE TRANSPORT TO DENOMINATIONAL SCHOOLS AND GRAMMAR SCHOOLS
1.INTRODUCTION
1.1As part of its 5-year Best Value Review plan, the Council commissioned specialist transport consultants, the TAS Partnership Ltd, to undertake a fundamental reappraisal of all aspects of the Borough’s Education and Social Services transport provision, including policy.
1.2The TAS report recommended a review of policy on free transport to grammar schools as there are perceived inequalities which have also been commented on by OFSTED eg a pupil gaining a place at a grammar school may be entitled to free transport, but a pupil who is unsuccessful in gaining a place and is then unable to obtain a place at their catchment area school will not be offered transport to an alternative school.
1.3The TAS report also suggested that policy on transport to denominational schools should be reviewed due to there being no specific legal requirement for the LEA to provide this.
1.4At a meeting of the Learning Overview Group held on 2 September 2003, the Group agreed to recommend Cabinet to consult schools and other interested parties on the proposal that discretionary right to transport to denominational and grammar schools be removed expect for families on benefit and that a “Transport Fund” be established to provide support for those families with a genuine need. The released funds to be delegated to school budgets.
1.5At the subsequent Cabinet meeting held on 9 September 2003 Members agreed that a consultation exercise should take place on this issue, involving schools, governing bodies, parents and transport operators.
1.6The Transport Advisory Group has requested that consideration be given by the Learning Overview Group to the introduction of a concessionary fare scheme for all young people in schools and colleges.
2.RECOMMENDATIONS
2.1That Members note and accept the information provided regarding the feedback from the consultation process.
2.2That Members recommend to Cabinet that a system of charging be introduced for travel on buses serving denominational and grammar schools, as outlined in paragraph 5.
2.3That Members note the possible impact of forthcoming legislative changes on home to school transport (as outlined in paragraph 4) and recommend to Cabinet that the Borough of Poole applies to become a pilot authority with a view to introducing a wide-ranging concessionary fare scheme for young people – a further report on the format of potential bids would be submitted to Members at a later date.
3.BACKGROUND
3.1Consultation process
3.2Letters and questionnaires (Appendix A) were sent to:
(i)All children currently receiving free or concessionary transport to denominational schools
(ii)All children currently receiving free or concessionary transport to grammar schools
(iii)All children in Poole combined, middle or primary schools in Years 4,5,6 and 7.
3.3The total number of letters and questionnaires sent out was 5,375 – 722 were returned (13.4% response).
3.4Governors and headteachers were also asked for their views, as were local transport operators.
3.5The feedback from the questionnaires was presented at public meetings held on 26 January 2004 and 25 February 2004. The information presented is set out in Appendix B.
3.6Additional issues raised and feedback received are presented in Appendices C and D.
4.New leglislation
4.1The Queen’s speech on 26 November 2003 announced a forthcoming Draft School Transport Bill.
4.2The Draft Bill would provide a framework for a number of LEAS to pilot new travel to school schemes aimed at reducing congestion.
4.3The Draft Bill would:
(i)Enable 6-12 pilot schemes in up to 20 LEAs, which would run for three years and inform future legislation covering all LEAs
(ii)Help LEAs to develop innovative solutions to areas of difficulty eg poor provision for pupils pursuing extra-curricular activities
(iii)Allow LEAs to charge for transport outside the statutory walking distance (2 miles for children under eight, 3 miles for children eight and over), except for pupils entitled to free school meals for whom transport would continue to be free; the money raised to be reinvested in better transport, and charges to be kept affordable to avoid a shift to car travel.
5.Proposal for charging
5.1The consultation demonstrated that a principal concern is the possible environmental impact that removing the school buses might have eg increased congestion, increased pollution, parking issues. It was also clear that alternative public bus services are not available for most pupils should the existing dedicated buses be withdrawn. In addition the bus operators indicated that there could be a considerable ‘knock-on’ effect to other bus services currently operated with the same vehicles.
5.2In response to this, it is suggested that the buses are retained, but that parents are asked to make a contribution towards the cost of their children’s travel.
5.3The consultation clearly indicated that there is a certain level of fare that families consider affordable; the stated concern was that if the fares are too high, people will not use the buses which may affect the long-term viability of these services and again may increase the numbers of cars on the road.
5.4Concerns were raised about the financial strain that charging may place on families on a low income, possibly restricting their options when expressing a preference for a school. The consultation showed that respondents were worried about the additional financial burden which would be experienced by families with more than one child and the apparent inequity caused by having a cut-off point based on distance ie two families can live next-door to each other and one may be entitled to free transport while the other is not.
5.5To cover the total costs of providing the current bus services, daily fares in the region of £3.42 would have to be charged for every pupil currently travelling free.
5.6Shamrock Buses currently provide 5 buses to Parkstone Grammar School and have found that a flat-fare charge to non-entitled pupils of £1.50 per pupil, per day is sustainable. In addition, recent passenger surveys seem to indicate that there are greater numbers of pupils not currently entitled to free transport now using the buses as fare-paying passengers.
5.7In response to the financial issues detailed in paragraphs 5.3 and 5.4, it is therefore suggested that all pupils who use the buses which run to denominational and grammar schools should pay a flat fare charge of £1.50 per pupil, per day. This charge would be capped at a maximum of two children per family.
5.8It is further suggested that families who meet the following criteria should have the charge waived.
(i)The pupil must be a resident of Poole.
(ii)The pupil must be of statutory school age.
(iii)They must be attending their nearest appropriate denominational or grammar schools.
(iv)In the case of denominational schools, the family must be able to provide appropriate documentary evidence of belonging to the denomination of the school.
(v)Referring to the statutory distance limits, and dependant on age, the pupil must be living more than two or three miles from their school.
(vi)The pupil should be in receipt of free school meals OR their parent(s) should be in receipt of Housing Benefit OR Council Tax Benefit.
5.9All other cases where there is perceived hardship (financial or otherwise) would be considered on an individual basis via the Borough’s established transport appeals system.
5.10The consultation indicated that service users would wish to have the choice of paying fares daily or having a prepaid pass.
5.11It is therefore suggested that families are offered the option of purchasing a pre-paid pass for either half-termly, termly or annual periods.
5.12A significant majority of respondents to the consultation indicated that they would prefer any new scheme to be phased in.
5.13It is therefore suggested that pupils currently in receipt of free school transport continue to do so until they move through the next phase change of their education ie primary to secondary, secondary to sixth form or other further education.
VICKY WALES
Head of Pupil and Parent Support
Officer Contact: Linda Gibbs (01202) 261939
8th March 2004-03-05
Background Papers:
TAS Report and Action Plan on Social Services and Education Transport – Report to the Borough of Poole – March 2003.
Responses to Consultation.
THE APPENDICES TO THIS REPORT ARE NOT AVAILABLE ELECTRONICALLY – PLEASE CONTACT DEMOCRATIC SERVICES SHOULD A COPY BE REQUIRED.
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