Consultation on Proposed Changes to Home to School Transport

Rutland Council is continuing to face a number of challenges. The funding we receive from national Government is reducing and there is a determination to hold back from increasing council tax charges to residents.

The Council sets out to provide the best quality services that can be offered and ensure that best value principals are embedded in everything it does.

The Council has a Medium Term Financial Plan which forecasts the likely income and revenue streams facing the Council on a rolling five year basis. In line with this, the Council needs to continue to make financial efficiencies in order to ensure that future financial targets are met.

In line with the above, the Council has been looking at transport costs with a view to ceasing any transport which is non-statutory.

Whilst many local authorities across the country have already taken action to stop providing discretionary transport, Rutland has maintained provision. However, it was agreed at the Council’s Cabinet on Tuesday 20 August to seek the public views on the withdrawal of denominational and post 16 transport. The details are summarised below:

Denominational transport

The Council spent £95,000 in the 2012/13 academic year supporting 40 students to faith based schools. Whilst students contribute £253.50 each toward the cost of their transport the net cost of providing denominational transport is expensive to maintain. Indications are that student numbers are likely to grow in the 2013/14 academic year.

The Council would like to seek views on the following two options:

(i) To withdraw denominational transport entirely with effect from September 2014. This option would mean that ALL denominational transport support would cease after July 2013 including those already receiving transport support.

(ii) To introduce a phased withdrawal of denominational transport from September 2014. This option would mean that no new students will be given transport support after July 2013 BUT existing students would continue to receive transport support until the end of their current school placement.

Post 16 Transport

During the 2012/13 academic year the council spent £94,000 supporting 90 students to various post 16 colleges. Students contributed £332 toward the cost of providing the transport.

The Council would like to seek views on the following two options:

(i) To withdraw post 16 entirely with effect from September 2014. This option would mean that ALL post 16 transport support would cease after July 2013 including those already receiving transport support.

(ii) To introduce a phased withdrawal of post 16 transport from September 2014. This option would mean that no new students will be given transport support after July 2013 BUT existing students would continue to receive transport support until the end of their current school placement.

Consultation

The Council would like to take into account the views of residents and partners in developing our final proposals. Should you wish to express your views, please contact Rutland County Council:

tel: 01572 758 451 or email: transport@rutland.gov.uk

Responses should be received by Thursday 26 September 2013 at the latest.

What happens next?

All responses arising from the consultation will be fed back to Council’s Cabinet in October. The final results of the consultation exercise and any actions will be published on the website in due course.

via Ian Ferguson →  Parish Council