Decision details

To recommend charges for the 2025-26 Academic Year for the following: -
Post 16 Home to School Transport;
and
Paid permits offered to non-eligible pupils where there is spare capacity in home to school transport

i)The Council continue to offer 50% discount in respect of the contribution charges for Post 16 travel and paid permits.
ii) To increase the cost of the contribution rate for post -16 charges and paid travel permits for the academic year 2025-26 to £818 full rate and £409 low-income rate.
iii) The Terms and Conditions for the paid permits remain in place with monitoring to be undertaken and reported alongside the post implementation review of the home to school travel policy in summer 2026.

Arising from a previous review of the Council’s Home to School Transport Policy in 2018-19, it was agreed that the two Home to School Transport contribution charges should be aligned, and this was subsequently achieved with effect from the academic year 2023-24.
The Council’s arrangements for home to school travel enable it to fulfil its statutory responsibilities. Through continued discretionary provision, including the provision of Post 16 travel and paid permits the council assists in providing young people with access to education.
The Council’s expenditure in respect of home to school travel has increased significantly during recent financial years and it is estimated that the expenditure during the financial year 2024-25 will have amounted to £50.49 million. However, the contribution rate charged for both post 16 travel and paid permits has not increased proportionally to the overall rate of expenditure and, therefore, the income raised from the charges has fallen as a proportion of the overall budget.
The Corporate Director considered guidance issued by the Corporate Director of Resources in respect of fees and charges for the financial year 2025-26 which was that they should rise by a minimum of 3.2%
The Terms and Conditions associated with the use of the paid permits, and specifically the provision that enables the withdrawal of a permit, assist the council in maximising the efficiency with which transport is provided when either:
•in year school admissions result in additional pupils becoming eligible for assistance with home to school travel or
•reviews of transport arrangements identify opportunities for savings to be achieved through the removal of services or the commissioning of smaller vehicles.
In determining the charge, consideration is required to be provided to the level of discount that should be provided for pupils / students from low-income families. The council currently offers a 50% discount utilising the DfE’s statutory guidance relating to the extended rights for home to school travel to define the eligibility criteria.

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