Agenda item

Home to School Transport Appeals

Report of the Executive Director, Children, Young People and Families

Minutes:

7.1

The Executive Director, People Services, submitted reports upon 12 cases where parents had appealed against the administrative decisions made by the Executive Director with regard to the refusal to grant home to school travel bus passes.  The parents in six cases had indicated that they wished to make verbal representations at the hearing, but four out of the six parents had failed to attend, so the cases were heard in their absence (Case Nos. UT/MA01, OA/AC01, BR05 and NO/DA02).

 

 

7.2

Verbal Appeal (BRO1)

 

 

7.2.1

In attendance were the appellant and her friend and Andy Tierney (Customer Services).

 

 

7.2.2

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and asked attendees to introduce themselves.  He then outlined the procedure which would be followed during the meeting.

 

 

7.2.3

The Executive Director, People Services, submitted a report and commented upon the case where the parent had appealed against the administrative decision made by the Executive Director with regard to the refusal to grant a home to school travel bus pass (Case No.BRO1).

 

 

7.2.4

Andy Tierney explained the Stage 1 review and Stage 2 appeals process regarding the City Council’s Home to School Transport Policy.  Mr. Tierney informed the Committee of the reasons why the request for a home to school travel pass had been refused at Stage 1.

 

 

7.2.5

The appellant and her friend explained to the Committee the reasons for the request for a home to school travel pass for her child.

 

 

7.2.6

In response to questions from Members, the appellant stated that she had asked at the Travel Interchange and had been told she would be eligible for a home to school travel pass.  The appellant stated that she had wanted a smooth transition for her child from primary to secondary school with her peer group and that, as a single parent family, she had put in place a strong support network of family and friends.  The appellant also stated that she could not understand why other children from the same peer group, got on the bus at the same stop as her child and they had home to school passes.

 

 

7.2.7

At this stage in the proceedings, the appellant left the meeting to enable the Committee to consider the evidence.

 

 

7.2.8

RESOLVED: That the appeal be not upheld on the grounds that there are no exceptional circumstances demonstrated, and having regard to the Council’s Home to School Transport Policy, the school that the pupil is requesting a pass for is not their catchment school/nearest suitable school (Case No.BRO1).

 

7.3.

Verbal Appeal – BR02

 

 

7.3.1

In attendance were the appellant and Andy Tierney (Customer Services).

 

 

7.3.2

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and asked attendees to introduce themselves.  He then outlined the procedure which would be followed during the meeting.

 

 

7.3.3

The Executive Director, People Services, submitted a report and commented upon the case where the parent had appealed against the administrative decision made by the Executive Director with regard to the refusal to grant a home to school travel bus pass (Case No.BRO2.).

 

 

7.3.4

Andy Tierney explained the Stage 1 review and Stage 2 appeals process regarding the City Council’s Home to School Transport Policy.  Mr. Tierney informed the Committee of the reasons why the request for a home to school travel pass had been refused at Stage 1.

 

 

7.3.5

The appellant explained to the Committee the reasons for the request for a home to school travel pass for her child.

 

 

7.3.6

In response to questions from Members, the appellant stated that, as a student on a placement outside of the City for a number of days a week, she relied heavily on the support of grandparents for the care of her child on those days.  She also stated that her child’s friends from the feeder school were attending the school.

 

 

7.3.7

At this stage in the proceedings, the appellant left the meeting to enable the Committee to consider the evidence.

 

 

7.3.8

RESOLVED: That the appeal be upheld on the grounds that there are exceptional educational and family circumstances in the case (Case No.BR02).

 

 

7.4

Written Appeals

 

 

7.4.1

The Executive Director, People Services, submitted reports and commented upon 10 cases where parents had appealed against the administrative decisions made by the Executive Director with regard to the refusal to grant home to school travel bus passes.

 

 

7.4.2

The Committee gave consideration to all the supporting information and evidence provided by the pupils’ parents and, arising therefrom, it was:-

 

 

7.4.3

RESOLVED: That (a) four appeals be not upheld on the grounds that there are no exceptional circumstances demonstrated, and having regard to the Council’s Home to School Transport Policy, the schools that the pupils are requesting passes for are not their catchment schools/nearest suitable schools (Case No.AL/SA01, NO/DA02, BR03 and BR04);

 

 

 

(b) one appeal be not upheld on the grounds that the distance from the home address of the pupil to the school for which they are requesting a pass for is less than the distance in the criteria (Case No. PA/AC01);

 

 

 

(c) four appeals be upheld on the grounds that there are exceptional educational and family circumstances in the cases (Case Nos.ST01, UT/MA01, OA/AC01 and UTC/MA02); and

 

 

 

(d) one appeal be deferred at the request of the parent who had been taken ill and wanted to submit further information (Case No.BR05).