Agenda and minutes

1.1       The Lead Member approved as a correct record the minutes of the meeting on 11 May 2015.

2.1       A copy of the reports referred to below are contained in the minute book.

3.1       The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Children’s Services which sought approval to consult on a review of discretionary Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) transport provision for the 2016/17 academic year.

DECISION

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

(2) to 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 on removing travel support for post-16 students from low income families (LIF) and FE link transport; and

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

Reasons

3.3       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.

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.

5.1       The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Children’s Services which sought approval to review the implementation of the Home to School transport policy regarding children living within the shared community areas. The headteacher of Willingdon Community School, Mr Ian Jungius addressed the Lead Member.

DECISION

5.2       RESOLVED to agree the Home to School Transport (HTST) policy continues to be applied as written to ensure that children living within shared community areas are only provided with free transport to their nearest designated school, provided the eligibility criteria are met.

Reasons

5.3       The County Council has statutory obligations to provide free home to school transport for qualifying children. However, in East Sussex the policy has been interpreted more generously to provide discretionary transport to children who are not entitled for that support under the current policy or legislative requirements. The County Council is no longer in a position to provide free transport to children who do not have a statutory entitlement.

6.1 The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Children’s Services which sought approval for East Sussex County Council to withdraw from the sponsorship of Hastings Academy Trust.

DECISION

6.2       RESOLVED to defer consideration of the proposal to a future Lead Member meeting.

Reason

6.3       This will allow for local Members to be briefed on the proposal before a decision is made.