Decision details

That the Cabinet Member:

notes the proposed increase in charges for home to school transport provision for those compulsory school aged students not eligible for free transport from September 2023 by the rate of inflation (CPI as at January 2023) in accordance with the Council’s Transport Policy for Children of Compulsory School Age. 

approves the proposed increase in charges for home to school transport provision for post 16 students from September 2023 by the rate of inflation (CPI as at January 2023).

The rate of inflation is a broad measure which reflects the overall increase in prices or the increase in the cost of living in a country. A rise in inflation rates necessitates the increase to charges for spare seats for non-eligible pupils to protect scarce council resources.

The transport policies and associated documents which require details of the charges / financial contributions for an academic year are published and / or need to be available in the preceding Spring Term (eg Spare seat forms, Post 16 Travel forms).

Option 1 would be to increase the amounts for compulsory school age children in accordance with the Transport Policy for Children of Compulsory School Age, but not increase the rates charged for post 16 students however this would have a financial impact on the Council and result in a growing subsidy at a time of decreasing resources

Option 2 would be to increase the amounts for compulsory school age children in accordance with the Transport Policy for Children of Compulsory School Age, but increase the charges / contributions for post 16 students by a different fixed amount. However, this would result in disparity between the amounts payable by compulsory school age students and post 16 students.