Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors John Cattanach, Sam Cross, Caroline Goodrick and Mike Schofield.

Declarations of interest were made as follows:

Councillor Andy Solloway at Minute 169 as he worked at selective schools in Skipton.

Councillor Paul Haslam at Minute 169 as he was a Trustee of Yorkshire Causeway Trust, however Home to School transport did not apply to schools within that Trust.

Councillor Yvonne Peacock declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest at Minute 169 and left the meeting during consideration of the item on the basis she is a partner in Private Hire firm which has a contract with NYC Integrated Passenger Transport for school transport.

The Assistant Chief Executive Legal and Governance confirmed that members who were school governors did not have a pecuniary interest as this was not a paid role and they could take part in the meeting.  Twelve members indicated that they were school governors.

Any correspondence, communication or other business brought forward by the direction of the Chair of the Council.

The chair welcomed the Honorary Aldermen and members of the public and press to the Extraordinary Meeting of Council, which had been convened to debate the Motion on the Home to School Transport Policy, which had been proposed by Cllr Bryn Griffiths and seconded by Cllr Peter Lacey.

The Chair informed members of the arrangements for the Extraordinary meeting, which would continue until such time as the business on the agenda was complete, and then be followed by the Annual Meeting of the Council.

The Chair referred to the by-election for the Eastfield Division which would be held on 19 June 2025 and reminded members that the council was now in the pre-election period and members should be mindful of this during the meeting.

The following Motion has been proposed by Cllr Griffiths and seconded by Cllr Lacey:

‘That this Council’s Home to School Transport Policy adopted in July 2024 be revised, so that free home-to-school transport for eligible pupils once again applies to a child’s catchment school, as well as their nearest suitable school. This policy should also be revised to apply from the end of the current school admissions round, with pre-agreed criteria put in place for settling appeals for pupils impacted since 1st September 2024.’

A report has been produced and included in the agenda pack for this meeting which provides an overview of the rationale for the Home to School Transport Policy along with details of its development and adoption, to provide background information and context as members consider the Motion that has been proposed.

The Chair invited Councillor Bryn Griffiths to move the Notice of Motion, which was seconded by Councillor Peter Lacey.

That this Council’s Home to School Transport Policy adopted in July 2024 be revised, so that free home-to-school transport for eligible pupils once again applies to a child’s catchment school, as well as their nearest suitable school. This policy should also be revised to apply from the end of the current school admissions round, with pre-agreed criteria put in place for settling appeals for pupils impacted since 1st September 2024.

Proposer:        Councillor Bryn Griffiths

Seconder:        Councillor Peter Lacey

The motion was then debated.  During the debate a named vote was requested and over 20 Members stood in support.  A vote on the motion was taken by roll call and declared defeated with 35 votes for the motion, 45 against and four abstentions.

For:  Councillors Chris Aldred, Joy Andrews, Philip Broadbank, Eric Broadbent, Barbara Brodigan, Andy Brown, Liz Colling, Felicity Cunliffe-Lister, Melanie Davis, Michelle Donohue-Moncrieff, Stephanie Duckett, Kevin Foster, Hannah Gostlow, Bryn Griffiths, Paul Haslam, Mike Jordan, Peter Lacey, Steve Mason, Rich Maw, John McCartney, Andrew Murday, David Noland, Bob Packham, Stuart Parsons, Jack Proud, John Ritchie, Subash Sharma, Steve Shaw-Wright, Dan Sladden, Monika Slater, Andy Solloway, Neil Swannick, Andrew Timothy, Matt Walker, Arnold Warneken.

Against:  Councillors Karl Arthur, Alyson Baker, Philip Barrett, Derek Bastiman, Nick Brown, David Chance, Mark Crane, Gareth Dadd, Caroline Dickinson, Keane Duncan, Richard Foster, Sam Gibbs, Tim Grogan, Michael Harrison, Robert Heseltine, David Hugill, Nathan Hull, George Jabbour, David Jeffels, Tom Jones, Nigel Knapton, Andrew Lee, Carl Les, Cliff Lunn, John Mann, Heather Moorhouse, Simon Myers, Andy Paraskos, Clive Pearson, Heather Phillips, Janet Sanderson, Karin Sedgwick, David Staveley, Roberta Swiers, Malcolm Taylor, Angus Thompson, Phil Trumper, Steve Watson, David Webster, John Weighell OBE, Greg White, Annabel Wilkinson, Peter Wilkinson, Andrew Williams and Robert Windass.

Abstain:  Councillor Lindsay Burr MBE, David Ireton, Janet Jefferson and Kirsty Poskitt.