Agenda and minutes

To elect a Chairman for this meeting.

Cllr Adrian Foster was elected as Chairman for this appeal only.

Cllr Adrian Foster in the Chair.

To receive any declarations of disclosable interests or dispensations granted by the Standards Committee.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 9 August 2023.

It was explained to the Panel that the minutes of the previous School Transport Appeal held on 9 August 2023 had not been published and would be taken to the next School Transport Appeal on 17 August 2023 for sign off.

To note the procedure for the meeting.

The Chairman outlined the meeting procedure as detailed in the agenda.

To agree that in accordance with section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972 to exclude the public from the meeting for the business specified in Item no. 5 because it is likely that if members of the public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1 and 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act and the public interest in withholding the information outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information to the public.

The panel considered whether to hold the meeting in closed session and it was:

Resolved:

To exclude members of the press and public for the business specified in Item no. 6 in accordance with section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, (paragraph 1 and 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act).

To consider and determine a school transport appeal.

The panel heard representations and replies from the Transport Officer and the appellant and asked questions of the parties involved. Upon consideration of this information:

Decision:

The Panel considered all the evidence provided, the Transport Officer’s report, and the statutory legal guidance and policy of Wiltshire Council and decided that the policy had been correctly applied by the Transport Officer.

Recognising the issues raised by the Appellant’s case, the Panel considered the information presented by the Appellant in regard to possible exceptional circumstances arising and decided that in this case the facts did not justify a departure from Wiltshire Council’s policy.