Agenda item

6.1

The Executive Director, Children, Young People and Families, submitted reports and commented upon 21 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.

6.2

The Committee gave consideration to all the supporting information and evidence provided by the pupils’ parents including, in some cases, evidence and advice provided by voluntary or professional bodies and organisations and, arising therefrom, it was:-

6.3

RESOLVED: That (a) 12 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, (i) the school that eight of the pupils are requesting a pass for is not their catchment school/nearest suitable school (Case No.STCA1, STCA2, AST1, AST2, SF1, AS1, HG1and YEW1); (ii) the distance from the home address of two of the pupils to the school for which they are requesting a pass for is less than the distance in the criteria (Case Nos.KIED4 and PWAC3) and (iii) two of the pupils do not attend one of their three nearest qualifying schools (Case No. KIEC1 and KIED3);

(b) six appeals be upheld on the grounds that there are either exceptional educational, financial, medical or family circumstances in the cases (Case Nos.NF1, NF2, KIED2, WES1, BF1def and BIR1);

(c) one appeal be upheld whilst the pupil remains at the current school (PWAC1); and

(d) consideration of the remaining two appeals be deferred to enable the Executive Director to seek further information, specifically relating to the family providing more detailed evidence regarding circumstances outlined by the familyin Case No.KIED1 and the provision of any supporting medical evidence in Case No.PWAC2.

(NOTE:  In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 26 of the Council’s Constitution and the provisions of Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985, the Chair decided that Case Nos.BD1def, BIR1 and YEW1 be considered as matters of urgency in order for the requests to be considered at the earliest possible opportunity although it had not been possible to give five clear days’ notice that the requests were to be considered).