‘Save Our School Transport’ Update

The Save Our School Transport campaign group took a deputation to the full council meeting on 9th July. Ahead of the meeting campaigners gathered outside the civic hall to raise awareness of the impact that the cuts to post 16 school transport are having for many young people and their families.

You can read the deputation speech here.

Following the deputation it was agreed by the council meeting that the issue be referred back to Julie Longworth, Head of Children & Families and Helen Hayden, lead councillor for Children & Families.

In addition there were proposals put forward to council to review the policy urgently, this vote was not passed but an amended proposal to review the impact of the policy was agreed.

We feel we have made some progress and the matter will also be discussed and the Children and Families scrutiny board in September. We have the support of a number of cross party councillors but unfortunately not enough councillors from the ruling party of the council.

There have been some more positive outcomes for some families who have been awarded either door to door transport or an enhanced personal travel allowance, which again is a small step in the right direction; but there are still many young people without the transport support they need for September.

We will continue to campaign and support families to access legal advice or take their situations to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman as we believe the policy is fundamentally unjust and discriminatory.

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