Issue - meetings

A report is attached. There will be a presentation at the meeting – slides are attached.

Chris Major, Group Manager Transport and Planning, introduced the item to the Panel and gave a presentation on ‘Getting from A to B – Strategic Transport Review’ which covered the following:

·  Purpose

·  Approach

·  Outcomes

·  Barriers

·  Supported bus funding

·  Review – Home to School Transport

·  HTST – Hazardous routes review

·  SEND – Personal budgets

·  Fleet utilisation and back office

·  Still to do’s…

·  Next Steps

Panel members made the following points and asked the following questions:

Councillor Butters asked how much SEN provision was provided when pupils came from other authorities. The officer stated that he would ask for a response from the Education Department. Councillor Butters asked if drivers had DBS checks for school buses, the officer explained that they did on contracted services but not on public buses.

Councillor Gilchrist explained that a Scrutiny Panel had done a lot of work on  home to school transport and hazardous routes 5 years ago which recommended that more children be encouraged to walk to school – he asked if this review is the first time this has been actioned. The officer explained that this review represented the second stage and added that there is now more online information for parents.

Councillor Anketell Jones asked if prioritising digital ways to gain information was the best way to save money, the officer explained that it was really important to get information and work with software providers is being done to help with costs.

Councillor Bull asked how it had been to work with WECA. The officer explained that there were a number of opportunities and challenges but work was being done with WECA to ensure the best outcomes.

The Chair thanked the officer for the update and asked that this issue be reported back to the Panel in 6 months.