Public Speaking Time/Open Session
A total period of 15 minutes is allocated for members of the public to make a statement(s) on any matter that falls within the remit of the Committee.
Individual members of the public may speak for up to 5 minutes, but the Chairman will decide how the period of time allocated for public speaking will be apportioned, where there are a number of speakers.
Note: In order for officers to undertake any background research, it would be helpful if members of the public notified the Scrutiny officer listed at the foot of the agenda, at least one working day before the meeting with brief details of the matter to be covered.
Minutes:
A number of members of the public wished to make a statement to the Committee regarding the Home to School Transport item.
Firstly, Alex Scott, Director of Schools from the Diocese Shrewsbury made the point that the proposed changes would cause serious disruption to local children and that there would be considerable consequential impacts on the environment and on educational attainment.
Heidi Reid, a Bollington parent of an SEN child made the assertion that there were already significant barriers to education for children and young people with SEN and that the proposed changes would only add to this. Indeed, it was argued that whilst employment figures for adults with SEN were already very poor, restricting access to educational opportunities would continue to exacerbate this further.