Issue - meetings

Report by the Director of Children’s Services

15.1     The Lead Member for Learning and School Effectiveness considered a report by the Director of Children’s Services which sought approval to make changes to the discretionary Low Income Families (LIF) and Further Education Link transport provision from the 2016/17 academic year.

15.2     RESOLVED to approve the implementation of the proposals set out below in order to reduce spend on the discretionary home to school transport (HTST) budget from the start of the 2016/17 academic year.

i.         to withdraw the current offer of free or subsidised travel (travel passes, travel grants, free places on school coaches) for 16-19 year old sixth form or college students from low income families;

ii.        to cease provision for a small number of 16-19 year old students who live in rural locations and who receive free ‘link transport’ to the nearest suitable bus stop or train station ; and

iii     to retain 25% of the former budget (£60k) to provide a hardship fund, for access by the most disadvantaged young people, in order to ensure that they can still get some support to help them get to sixth form or college.

Reasons

15.3     It is anticipated that East Sussex County Council (ESCC) will need to reduce expenditure by £70-90 million between 2016/17 and 2018/19 and all areas will need to be considered.

4.1       The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Children’s Services which sought approval to consult on a review of discretionary post-16 support for low income families (LIF) and rural link transport provision for the 2016/17 academic year.

DECISION

4.2       RESOLVED to (1) approve consultation on the 2 proposals set out in the report to reduce spend on the discretionary home to school/college budget from the start of the 2016/17 academic year;

                                    (2) approve two parallel consultations over summer 2015; the first on reducing the level of support for students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), and the second, as set out in this report, on removing travel support for post-16 students from low income families (LIF) and FE link transport; and

                                    (3) note that decisions on whether to proceed with these changes following the consultation final report and appropriate Scrutiny meetings, will be taken in the contact of wider savings proposals by either the Lead Member or Cabinet in November 2015.

Reasons

4.3       It is anticipated that East Sussex County Council will need to reduce expenditure by £70- 90 million between 2016/17 and 2018/19 and all areas will need to be considered.