Agenda and minutes

Members are asked to declare any interests in the items under consideration and in doing so state:

(1) the type of interest concerned; and

(2) the nature of the interest concerned

If any member requires advice on declarations of interests, they are advised to contact the Head of Democratic Governance in advance of the meeting.

None.

To agree the minutes of the last meeting held on 9 April 2018 as a true and correct record.

Resolved:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 9 April 2018 be approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

Resolved: That under Section 100 (A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the whole item, including the decisions referred to at Agenda item 4 on the grounds that it would involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

To consider an appeal lodged in connection with the provision of assistance for home to school transport.

The Committee considered an appeal that had been lodged in connection with a decision taken by officers within the Children’s Services Directorate not to provide assistance with home-to-school transport.

Mr P Thompson presented the case on behalf of the Authority.

The Appellant was in attendance at the meeting.

Also in attendance at the meeting were Mrs Duxbury, Deputy Head of Legal Services and Miss Burnett, Clerk to the Committee.

The Committee had regard to the Council’s Home to School and College Transport Policy document and the Local Authority’s acknowledgement that the appellant had complex special education needs and was unable to travel independently.  However, the Authority had been unable to offer assistance as the family had not fully met the criteria for discretionary transport assistance.

The Committee was advised that another student who lived close to the appellants’ family home was already in receipt of transport assistance from the Authority and if the transport could be shared, would not incur any additional cost to the Authority.

Resolved

To overturn the officer’s decision not to provide assistance with home to school transport costs on the grounds that whilst the decision had been made in accordance with the Council’s Home to School and College Transport Policy, there was sufficient circumstances to override the Policy.  The decision was that the Council would provide home to school transport assistance for the same duration that the other student was in receipt of assistance and on the understanding that the appellant remained at the same college and lived at the same address.

Background papers:  Exempt

To note the date of the next meeting as 26 November 2018.

Resolved: To note the date of the next meeting as 26 November 2018.