Agenda item

The Chairman introduced this item and announced that she would agree to take the report by the Corporate Director for Neighbourhood and Planning, which was made available on Tuesday 19 July 2011, as an item of urgent business because there would not be a further meeting of this Committee to consider and make comments before it was presented to Cabinet for approval on 13 September 2011.

Cllr Richard Gamble, Portfolio Holder for Public Transport, gave a brief overview of the contents of the report, explaining that following consideration of the representations received, and of the financial, environmental, legal and equalities impacts, the following three options were now put forward for consideration:-

Option 1 – implement original proposal to withdraw all discretionary denominational transport assistance with effect from September 2012. 

Option 2 – withdraw discretionary denominational assistance with effect from September 2012, but with transitional provisions to assist pupils entering the final year of their GCSE course in 2012.

Option 3 – withdraw discretionary denominational assistance with effect from September 2012, but with transitional provisions to assist all pupils who are already receiving transport. 

The Committee received statements from members of the public as follows, expressing their opposition to the proposal:-

Mr Alastair Erdozain – Retired Governor, St John’s RC Primary School, Trowbridge

Ms Emma Kayne – Governor, St Patrick’s RC Primary School, Corsham

Ms Helen Ward – Parent & Foundation Governor, St Augustine’s RC School, Trowbridge

Mr Michael Stevenson – Chair of Governors, St Augustine’s RC School, Trowbridge

The Committee also noted that questions had been received from the following members of the public and to whom written responses were given:

Mrs Jane Keogh – a parent

Mr Tony Lowe

Father Jean-Patrice Coulon – Parish Priest, Our Lady, the Immaculate Conception, Devizes 

The Committee also received letters opposing the proposal from:

Dr Michael Thompson – representing Clifton RC Diocese

Mr Paul Hughes – Headteacher, St Joseph’s RC School, Salisbury  

During the ensuing debate the following points were raised:

·                A suggestion was made that a Rapid Scrutiny Exercise be arranged in order to give more time for consideration to be given to the contents of the report prepared by the Corporate Director for Neighbourhood and Planning.  The Exercise should be open to the public and its views and comments would be forwarded to Cabinet to consider at its meeting on 13 September 2011.

·                Whilst supporting in principle the setting up of a Rapid Scrutiny Exercise, a number of Members considered that all Members of the Select Committee should be invited to participate, rather than a small number of its membership, bearing in mind that the Rapid Scrutiny Group would be sending its views and comments direct to Cabinet.

·                Many parents make arrangements for their children’s primary or secondary education to be carried out in one school and to be suddenly faced with having to either pay for denominational school transport or finding a totally new school might not viable. 

·                Consideration should also be given to a further Option of no change to the current arrangements and a detailed examination should be given to costing figures provided.

·                The following members of this Select Committee expressed an interest in taking part in the rapid scrutiny exercise:

Cllr Christine Crisp, Cllr Peter Davis, Cllr Mark Griffiths, Cllr Russell Hawker, Cllr Jon Hubbard, Cllr Jacqui Lay, Cllr Carole Soden, Mr Neil Owen, Mrs Rosheen Ryan and Dr Michael Thompson. 

After further discussion,

Resolved:

1.         To establish a Rapid Scrutiny Exercise to consider the proposals to Cabinet on Denominational Home-to-School Transport and to make recommendations as appropriate, this meeting to take place prior to Cabinet’s meeting on 13 September 2011 and to include an opportunity for public participation.

2.      To request that the Chairman and Scrutiny Officer liaise with the Cabinet Member and officers to ensure that the further information requested by members is made available for the Rapid Scrutiny Group.