Issue - meetings

To consider an update on the current position of and future changes to Transport Services.

The Committee received a report on the current status of the Transport Policy from the Transport Manager. The report summarised the likely changes to transport that had been either agreed or were to be considered over the coming months.

The Council’s adopted business plan for the period 2012-2015 contained a number of changes pertaining to transport support. There were reductions in budgets for home to school transport, public transport, flexible/community transport and management and administration of transport. This required substantial changes to transport provided by Cheshire East.

Consultation on the changes required to be made would be carried out in June 2012 and would be reported back to this Committee before recommending changes to Cabinet in August 2012.

Savings would be made through reductions in subsidising public transport, and removal of free transport provision for children attending denominational schools through parental choice. Efforts would be made to mitigate impacts of withdrawal of support for public transport and affected schools would be given one-off funding to support students in finding alternative travel options.

The Committee expressed concern about the removal for current recipients of free transport for children attending denominational schools through parental choice on the grounds of religion/faith. It was suggested that, although savings were necessary, current recipients should continue to receive support until the end of school years as some parents would have made choices about which school their children would attend based on the receipt of free transport.

RESOLVED:

(a)  That the report be received and the Committee note with concern the impact of the budget restrictions.   

(b)  That the Committee express reservations regarding the home to school transport proposals contained within the report.          

(c)  That, given the importance of the subject matter, the Transport Manager be requested to return to the Committee with a further update after the consultation period at the 24 July 2012 meeting.