School transport changes go out to consultation

Plans to change the way home to school transport in Rutland is delivered and paid for have taken a step forward.

Rutland County Council’s cabinet approved new policy proposals this morning which could see some low income families whose children in post 16 education travel currently travel for free charged and SEN families being asked to manage their own travel budgets and transport arrangements.

The costs to the local authority for school transport have risen greatly over the past few years and the authority is having to make budget cuts to make sure it does not spend more than it receives in grants and income. The new policies and any new charges would come into effect from September 2026.

Cabinet member for transport Christine Wise (Lib Dem) said the existing policies were quite dated: “Alongside changes in statutory guidance there has been a substantial increase in the number of young people receiving travel assistance. This has meant that demand has outstripped funding available – causing huge budget pressures.

The number of children with SEND and an educational health care plan has increased from 272 in 2020/21 to 367 in 

“Some of the current policies are vague leading to inconsistencies of decision making and confusion. The changes proposed in this report aim to reduce that, but we will never reduce it completely – we can only do our best.”

The authority is hoping to spell out in detail where the savings will come from, but the report predicts savings of £526,000 will be made from the next financial year until 2028 by ‘optimising the transport routes, improved procurement though the introduction of a dynamic purchasing system and management of the contracts. In year 3 a mixture of the proposed policy changes and the efficient management of the service will deliver the savings. 

Coun Wise said after consultation a final policy document would be drawn up.  Consultation will now begin, with all families who may be affected contacted by the local authority.

Coun Tim Smith (Lib Dem) said local authorities up and down the country were dealing with the cost pressure of school transport.

At the meeting the cabinet also approved a new draft local nature reserve strategy to go out to consultation. Under the Environment Act 2021, all local authorities have to have a strategy. Rutland is producing its strategy together with Leicestershire councils, which have taken responsibility for putting it together.

And also approved was a new council tax reduction scheme policy, which the authority says will make it easier for claimants to apply and to understand what they are entitled to.

Cabinet member Andrew Johnson (Lib Dem) said the new policy would not save the authority money in terms of what it pays out in support, but could make savings in terms of process.