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The decisions as the council's minutes record them. A plain-language summary follows once it has been written.
AGREED – That, subject to the aforementioned, the work programme be agreed.
AGREED – To consider a further report on the actions being undertaken to address the budget pressures on the school transport budget when progress information is available on the following areas, with an interim update being submitted to the meeting in October 2024: (a) Progress on the following next steps identified in paragraph 4.15 of Report COET/19/24 – - Spend to save process which will require the procurement of traffic data on WCBC’s most costly school hazardous routes. - Re-assessment of the current main hazardous routes which the local authority consider for walking journeys to schools. Further consideration of improvements to routes. - School budgetary pressures being considered by the newly formed Change and Efficiency Programme Board. - Collaboration with neighbouring local authorities to consider potential changes to the tendering process for School Transport, including FCC model of provision for Post-16 school transport. (b) The following additional information – - Funding baseline cash limited budget to meet demand for school transport. - Assurances in respect of compliance with the Learner Travel (Wales) Measure and updated guidance. - Recruitment and retention of school escorts.
Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Stella Matthews, Alison Tynan and Debbie Wallice and co-opted members Alison Fisher and Dr Emily Clarke-Jones.
Decision as recorded
AGREED – That, subject to the aforementioned, the work programme be agreed.
The Chief Officer Governance & Customer submitted a report (COGC/38/24s) to consider the work programme of the Lifelong Learning Scrutiny Committee. Presenting the report the Scrutiny Facilitator provided an update on the proposed scheduling of items as follows: · Welsh in Education Strategic Plan annual report to be scheduled for May 2025, prior to submission to Welsh Government · Further report on the delivery of the new Curriculum for Wales proposed to be scheduled for December 2024. · All Member Workshop in respect of the work of Noddfa along with additional support provided for pupils with challenging behaviours to be scheduled for July 2024. AGREED – That, subject to the aforementioned, the work programme be agreed.
Decision as recorded
AGREED – To consider a further report on the actions being undertaken to address the budget pressures on the school transport budget when progress information is available on the following areas, with an interim update being submitted to the meeting in October 2024: (a) Progress on the following next steps identified in paragraph 4.15 of Report COET/19/24 – - Spend to save process which will require the procurement of traffic data on WCBC’s most costly school hazardous routes. - Re-assessment of the current main hazardous routes which the local authority consider for walking journeys to schools. Further consideration of improvements to routes. - School budgetary pressures being considered by the newly formed Change and Efficiency Programme Board. - Collaboration with neighbouring local authorities to consider potential changes to the tendering process for School Transport, including FCC model of provision for Post-16 school transport. (b) The following additional information – - Funding baseline cash limited budget to meet demand for school transport. - Assurances in respect of compliance with the Learner Travel (Wales) Measure and updated guidance. - Recruitment and retention of school escorts.
The Lead Member for Education submitted a report (COET/19/24s) to update the Lifelong Learning Scrutiny Committee since the last report (COET/22/23) on 12 October 2023, of work being undertaken on School Transport in Wrexham County Borough Council, which includes addressing budget pressures and hazardous walking routes. Presenting the report the Lead Member referred to the work undertaken to reduce the budget pressures on the school transport budget and assured the Committee that the pressure would continue to be closely monitored by officers. The Head of Service – Accountancy, Finance and ICT provided further financial information advising Members that through a range of measures the 2023-24 budget pressure had reduced by £700k with the latest forecast being a £1.85m budget pressure, subject to the finalised outturn report for the year end. It was reported that for the 2024-25 Financial Year, the School Transport budget has been increased by £1,279,763 to £6,893,118. A monthly task and finish group made up of officers from HR, Finance and Environment and Technical departments, would continue to monitor the service throughout the year. The Head of Service (Strategy) provided an overview of the additional measures that had been taken since the last report. Members were advised that a review of the number and nature of school transport journeys had been undertaken, in particular single occupancy vehicles, escorted journeys, journeys under 1 miles and under 2 miles, out-of-county Additional Learning Needs (ALN) placements and Hazardous routes. Members were also informed that the Welsh Government’s report in respect of the review of the Learner Travel Wales Measure stated that there would be no immediate change to the legislation, however there would be an update to the associated guidance in the future. This would provide an opportunity for the authority to review its own policy to align with the guidance. Members considered the report and asked questions of the Lead Member and officers present. During debate the following matters were highlighted in particular: · Noted that the budget for the service had not always been fully representative of costs. The budget pressure arising from school transport costs was absorbed by the Environment department. · Pleased to note that more rigorous forecasting arrangements had resulted in the reduction in the budget pressure for 2023/24. Officers provided further details on the actions taken to address the budget pressure. · The impact of the increase in the number of pupils with more complex needs requiring transport and rising inflation costs on the budget. · The arrangements for forecasting ALN school transport and the responsibilities to ensure that pupils with complex needs had their right to access education met. · Noted that where possible shared journeys with other pupils were undertaken to ensure better value for money. However, where there were very specialist needs a single pupil would often be transported. It was reported that Education colleagues are considering the need for more ALN provision within the county as part of the Sustainable Schools for Learning programme. · Noted that regional work was in early stages of development to consider the implications of changing the tendering processes and terms and conditions of school transport journeys. · The opportunity to review post-16 transport following the receipt of the updated WG guidance. · Noted that consideration would be given to the potential for using fleet vehicles to transport pupils. · Assurances sought that the data used for budget forecasting was accurate. · The hazardous routes process and guidance was explained to Committee. Reported that the Hazardous Routes Appeals process was historic. The guidance that had been issued following the introduction of the Learner Travel Wales Measure was more prescriptive in respect of what constituted a hazardous route and was a more evidence based process. · Whilst there had been 9 resignations or retirements of school escorts since July 2023, there had been 24 new recruitments since September 2023. Costs of school escort provision had reduced. There had also been a reduction in the numbers of pupils being accompanied by their parents since September 2023 from 12 to 10. · The impact of budget cuts on school escort provision, in particular teaching assistants who may also undertake this work. · Noted that School Transport budgetary pressures would be considered by the Change and Efficiency Programme Board. The role of Scrutiny Committees in having the opportunity for pre-decision scrutiny was highlighted. Requested that the Change and Efficiency Programme Board liaise with scrutiny facilitators to ensure that items were included on scrutiny work programmes. AGREED – To consider a further report on the actions being undertaken to address the budget pressures on the school transport budget when progress information is available on the following areas, with an interim update being submitted to the meeting in October 2024: (a) Progress on the following next steps identified in paragraph 4.15 of Report COET/19/24 – - Spend to save process which will require the procurement of traffic data on WCBC’s most costly school hazardous routes. - Re-assessment of the current main hazardous routes which the local authority consider for walking journeys to schools. Further consideration of improvements to routes. - School budgetary pressures being considered by the newly formed Change and Efficiency Programme Board. - Collaboration with neighbouring local authorities to consider potential changes to the tendering process for School Transport, including FCC model of provision for Post-16 school transport. (b) The following additional information – - Funding baseline cash limited budget to meet demand for school transport. - Assurances in respect of compliance with the Learner Travel (Wales) Measure and updated guidance. - Recruitment and retention of school escorts.
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