Agenda and minutes

Craffu ar y Cyd / Joint Scrutiny, Learning and Skills Scrutiny Committee - Thursday, 26th September, 2024 12.15 pm

Venue: By Zoom

Contact: Katharine Flanagan-Jones Email: katharine-maria.flanagan-jones@powys.gov.uk

Note: Joint Scrutiny

Media

Items

No.

Item

Apologies

To receive apologies for absence.

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from County Councillors, S McNicholas, C Robinson, C Masefield, K Lewis, R Devlin, C Kenyon Wade.

Disclosures of interest

To receive any disclosures of interest by Members relating to items to be considered at the meeting.

Minutes:

There were no Declarations of Interest from Members relating to items to be considered on the agenda.

Declarations of Party Whip

To receive disclosures of prohibited party whips which a Member has been given in relation to the meeting in accordance with Section 78(3) of the Local Government Measure 2011.

(NB: Members are reminded that under Section 78 Members having been given a prohibited party whip cannot vote on a matter before the Committee.)

Minutes:

The Committee did not receive any disclosures of prohibited party whips which a Member has been given in relation to the meeting in accordance with Section 78(3) of the Local Government Measure 2011.

Home to School Transport Policy and Reports PDF 194 KB

To receive and consider the Home to School Transport Policy and associated reports and appendices.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Reports and appendices received as follows:

Scrutiny Report - Revision to the Home to school Transport Policy

Appendix A – Home to School Transport Policy

Appendix B – Consultation Report

Appendix C – Impact Assessment

Points raised by the Panel:	Responses received from Officers or Cabinet Members.
What were the key changes to the wording in both the admissions policy and the transport policy.	The admission policy would be updated once approval has been provided to the transport policy. The wording in the current policy referred to nearest suitable or catchment school this was found to be confusing and changed to catchment school.
It was asked why the two policies would not be aligned immediately.	The monitoring officer explained that a recommendation could be made to Cabinet if needed.
Were we confident that the suggested changes were still in compliance with the Learner Travel Wales Measure 2008, which was legally binding and requires the provision of safe and suitable transport to the nearest suitable school? The act was very clear on this matter. Has there been a ministerial statement following this legislation?	Suitability was decided in compliance with the guidance, with the Local Authority (LA) determining which school is nearest. The LA can choose which school was nearest, following statutory guidance.
Catchment areas are very important. Was it clear that there was free transport to the nearest school, including schools in England? The policy has the right to designate the nearest school. Moving from the nearest suitable school, has the right to travel been withdrawn.	There was an argument for the Llanbister wide catchment area, which included the nearest school for learners to Llanidloes, Newtown, and Ysgol Calon Cymru. Estyn inspections were critical of transition arrangements, which split small year groups, therefore stitching the primaries together had improved the system. In regard to the area noted in the North of Powys, if the nearest school was in England, Officers would refer review that matter. It was noted that an appeals mechanism was in place. The school catchment areas had been consulted upon and agreed.
Members understood the drive to link primary schools to high schools, however parents may feel they know what is best for their child and may have concern at having to address issues via an appeals process.	Powys provides transport to the nearest suitable school based on the catchment area. The process followed catchment maps, and a consultation had been completed. Powys would align the school transport policy with catchment maps.
There was merit in the admissions and transport policies being introduced simultaneously, providing parents with their first introduction to the school system. There was support for delaying this implementation until post 2025.
In October 2022, the current review was unanimously approved to deliver greater clarity on entitlements and supporting greater parental choice.
Where the natural flow of the community was in the opposite direction to the catchment school, which school would be deemed the most suitable school for those areas.
Whilst the clarification on the provision ... view the full minutes text for item 4.