Agenda item

          Councillor D.Lewis put the following question in accordance with Rule 9.2 of the Council’s Procedure Rules:-

          I am a Governor at Cwmtawe Comprehensive School and on 3^rd August 2014, I wrote to Chief Executive about newly introduced changes to School Transport rules for children in the Cwmtawe catchment area.

In my view, the changes were discriminatory and possibly illegal.  The Chief Executive refuted those views and explained that the policy covering the changes currently being enforced were covered by the Council’s Home to School Transport Policy decided by Cabinet on 27th March 2013. When of course, I was the Cabinet Member for Education.

Question

Would the current Cabinet Member for Education demonstrate where in that document  it says that Children attending Welsh Medium Primary Schools who chose to continue their secondary education in an English Medium Secondary School, and I quote 'would be deemed as a preferred placement  to which no free transport would be provided' (letter from an Education Officer to a parent from Tairgwaith, 30th September 2014) ?

Even though for example a child from the same street who chose an English Medium Primary School would have their transport free when attending the same English Medium secondary school.

Councillor Peter Rees, Cabinet Member for Education and Lifelong Learning, responded to the above request in that the distance criteria threshold for primary age pupils was 2 miles while the threshold for secondary age pupils was 3 miles.

The Deputy Leader then made reference to the Cabinet report of 27^th March 2013 and in particular the Learner Travel Measure and Learner Travel Operational Guidance 2009 which applies equally to both English and Welsh medium schools.  Reference was also made to the subsequent Learner Travel – Statutory Provision and Operational Guidance 2014.

Under the Authority’s discretionary powers to determine the nearest suitable school for secondary transfer to be a Welsh medium school – even if that school is not the nearest by travel distance.  In the case of this Authority, the Welsh medium secondary school designated as the nearest suitable is YG Ystalyfera.  By default, this makes other schools preferred placement choices for parents for which, notwithstanding the Authority’s discretionary powers, there is no requirement to provide assistance with transport.

          In accordance with the Council’s constitution, Councillor Lewis then asked a supplementary question as follows:-

a.       Councillor Lewis made reference to the letter from the Director of Education, Leisure and Lifelong Learning of 4^th February 2014 asking why it was only YGG Ystalyfera that the Authority provided free transport for secondary pupils?

b.       When did the Cabinet/Council scrutinise and adopt the Policy – it does not exist – it was just a footnote on the Policy Document?

c.       Is the Cabinet Member aware that any changes to policies etc. must be conveyed to the parents no later than 1^st October the year prior to the child entering the school? This did not happen as letters were received by parents 6 months late ie on the 4^th February, 2014, by which time parents had secured the relevant pupil placements.

The Director of Education, Leisure and Lifelong Learning began

to respond to the Supplementary Question, however Cllr Lewis withdrew from the meeting at this point.  The Director therefore advised Council that he would compile a written response to the supplementary question.