Agenda and minutes

To provide an opportunity for Members and Officers to declare any personal and/or prejudicial interests in any item on the agenda

Councillor M J Simon declared a personal interest in Case No. 1 on the basis that she was the Ward Councillor and a Governor at the school which was the subject of the appeal.

Councillor M Asquith declared a personal interest in Case No. 2 on the basis that he was the Ward Councillor.

No other declarations of interest were made.

In accordance with Procedure Rules Nos. 11 and 35 a total period of 10 minutes is allocated for members of the public to address the Committee on any matter relevant to its work.  There is no requirement to give notice of the intention to make use of public speaking provision;  however, as a matter of courtesy, a period of 24 hours’ notice is encouraged.

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.

Members of the public wishing to ask a question at the meeting should provide at least three clear working days’ notice in writing and should include the question with that notice. This will enable an informed answer to be given.

In accordance with Procedure Rules Nos. 11 and 35, a total period of 10 minutes was allocated for members of the public to address the Committee on any matter relevant to its work, or to ask a question.

There were no members of the public in attendance and the Committee proceeded to its next item of business.

To approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 23 September 2010.

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 23 September 2010 be approved as a correct record.

The report relating to the remaining item on the agenda has been withheld from public circulation and deposit pursuant to Section 100(B)(2) of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that the matters may be determined with the press and public excluded.

The Committee may decide that the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item pursuant to Section 100(A)4 of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1 and 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 and the public interest would not be served in publishing the information.

RESOLVED:

That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item, pursuant to Section 100(A)4 of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1 and 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 and the public interest would not be served in publishing this information.

The Committee is asked to determine appeals against the decision of the Council not to offer assisted school transport to the appellants’ children.

A copy of the “Under 16 Transport Policy” is enclosed and has been applied in each case.

The Committee considered two appeals against the decision of the Integrated Transport Service not to allow assisted school transport, in accordance with the Council’s Under-16 Transport Policy.

Case No. 1

Councillor D Brickhill was in attendance, with the appellant. The Principal Transport Officer and the Senior Road Safety Officer (joint Presenting Officers) detailed the Local Authority’s case. Councillor Brickhill gave oral evidence on behalf of the appellant, to support the written submission.  The appellant also spoke in support of her appeal.

Members of the Committee asked questions of both parties by way of clarification.  Councillor Brickhill and the Presenting Officers were also able to ask questions by way of clarification.

At this point in the proceedings, Councillor Brickhill and the appellant, together with the representatives from the Integrated Transport Service and Road Safety withdrew from the meeting, following which the Committee reached its decision.

RESOLVED: 

That the appeal be refused.

The Principal Transport Officer and the Operations Manager (Eligibility) re-joined the meeting at this point in the proceedings.

Case No. 2

The appellant was not in attendance and the Committee heard the appeal based on the appellant’s written evidence only, and the oral and written evidence presented by the Principal Transport Officer who detailed the Local Authority’s case.

Members of the Committee were able to ask questions by way of clarification.

The Principal Transport Officer and the Operations Manager (Eligibility) withdrew from the meeting, following which the Committee reached its decision.

RESOLVED:

That the appeal be refused.