Agenda item

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

(This item contains personal information regarding the appellant which is exempt from publication by virtue of Paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972)

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 and accompanied by her daughter CM.

Also in attendance at the meeting were Mr Caveney, Deputy Head of Legal Services, (Litigation and Delivery) and Miss Burnett, Clerk to the Committee.

The Committee carefully considered all the information submitted by the appellant and the Authority both in writing and verbally at the meeting. 

The Committee had regard to the Council’s Home to School and College Transport Policy document and noted that both schools attended by the appellant’s child were below the three mile specified walking distance.  The Committee was advised that the appellant’s child had previously walked to school and the additional walking distance of 0.1 miles from the family home was not considered a significant enough distance to override the Policy.  A Paediatric Occupational Therapy Assessment, which recommended regular exercise, including walking, supported this decision, as it would assist with the development of gross and fine motor skills.

The Committee considered the appellant’s reasons for wanting assistance with home-to-school transport costs and acknowledged that the appellant had not previously seen the Occupational Therapy Assessment and that whilst the additional walking caused pain, her consultant at the Blackpool Victoria Hospital last saw the appellant’s daughter in July 2017.  It noted that there was no direct bus route from the home address to the school.

The Committee gave careful regard to the appellant’s concerns and after carefully considering all the evidence before it, the Appeals Committee was satisfied that the decision not to provide assistance with home to school transport costs was made in accordance with the Council’s Home to School and College Transport Policy.

Resolved:

To uphold the officer’s decision not to provide assistance with home to school transport costs on the grounds that the decision was made in accordance with the Council’s Home to School and College Transport Policy and there were insufficient exceptional circumstances to override the Policy.

Background papers:  Exempt