Agenda item

The recommendations at page 38 of the agenda pack (pages 1474 of the Minute Book) were moved and seconded.

1.     The following amendment to the recommendations was moved by Councillor Andrew Timothy and seconded by Councillor Monika Slater:

Remove item 7.1.(iv) - “to remove travel assistance to children attending designated religious character primary schools as part of the future travel policy.”

The reason behind the amendment was that religion, belief, or lack thereof was a protected characteristic under the 2010 Equality Act.  The proposer and seconder therefore contended that no family, regardless of socio-economic background, should be required to send their children to a religious primary school, or prevented from doing the same, through the requirement to pay for, or otherwise arrange, transport to any school which was not the geographically closest school.

Proposer – Councillor Andrew Timothy

Seconder – Councillor Monika Slater

The amendment was then debated. 

On a vote being taken the motion was declared defeated with 15 votes for, 55 against and 4 abstentions.

2.     The following amendment to the recommendations was moved by Councillor Bryn Griffiths and seconded by Councillor Hannah Gostlow: 

Remove recommendation vi) from Para 7.1 - “amend the criterion to match the statutory requirement, meaning that in future eligibility on catchment grounds would no longer apply as part of the future travel policy.”

The reason behind the amendment was that the proposer and seconder contended that the climate change implications in the supporting documentation were flawed – they only considered those pertaining to North Yorkshire Council and did not include those arising from increased effects on the consequential public travel.  Further, the report stated that it was not possible to provide an accurate estimate of the carbon dioxide savings that would be achieved.

Proposer – Councillor Bryn Griffiths

Seconder – Councillor Hannah Gostlow

The amendment was then debated. 

On a vote being taken the motion was declared defeated with 20 votes for, 52 against and 2 abstentions.

Debate then ensued on the substantive motion.

It was moved and seconded that Council now move to the vote and on a vote being taken 71 Members voted for the motion, 2 voted against and there was 1 abstention.

A named vote was requested and over 20 Members stood to request the named vote.  The motion was declared carried with 48 votes for, 26 votes against and no abstentions.

For: Councillors Karl Arthur, Alyson Baker, Derek Bastiman, Eric Broadbent, John Cattanach, David Chance, Liz Colling, Mark Crane, Gareth Dadd, Caroline Dickinson, Keane Duncan, Richard Foster, Sam Gibbs, Caroline Goodrick, Tim Grogan, Michael Harrison, David Hugill, Nathan Hull, George Jabbour, Tom Jones, Nigel Knapton, Andrew Lee, Cliff Lunn, John Mann, Heather Moorhouse, Simon Myers, Bob Packham, Andy Paraskos, Clive Pearson, Heather Phillips, Jack Proud, Janet Sanderson, Karin Sedgwick, Subash Sharma, Steve Shaw-Wright, Neil Swannick, Roberta Swiers, Malcolm Taylor, Angus Thompson, Philip Trumper, Steve Watson, David Webster, John Weighell OBE, Greg White, Annabel Wilkinson, Peter Wilkinson, Andrew Williams and Robert Windass.

Against:  Councillors Philip Broadbank, Andy Brown, Lindsay Burr MBE, Sam Cross, Michelle Donohue-Moncrieff, Kevin Foster, Hannah Gostlow, Bryn Griffiths, Paul Haslam, Robert Heseltine, David Ireton, Janet Jefferson, Mike Jordan, Peter Lacey, Rich Maw, John McCartney, Andrew Murday, David Noland, Stuart Parsons, Tony Randerson, Dan Sladden, Monika Slater, David Staveley, Andrew Timothy, Matt Walker and Arnold Warneken.

Resolved –

That the Council consider the appended report on Proposed Changes to the Home to School Travel Policy and adopt the policy with effect from 1 September 2024 as recommended by the Executive, including each of the following recommendations:

i) to retain this extended eligibility in reception year as part of the future travel policy.

ii) to retain this extended eligibility in Year 3 as part of the future travel policy.

iii) to remove transport assistance to second address as part of the future travel policy.

iv) to remove travel assistance to children attending designated religious character primary schools as part of the future travel policy.

v) a proposal that travel on transition is assessed on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the EHCP as part of the future policy.

vi) amend the criterion to match the statutory requirement, meaning that in future eligibility on catchment grounds would no longer apply as part of the future travel policy.

vii) use its discretionary powers to extend the eligibility for travel assistance for secondary age pupils from low income families to attend one of their three nearest suitable schools provided it is more than 2 miles but not more than 12 miles (an increase from 6 miles) from their home as part of the future travel policy.

(In accordance with her declaration at Minute 94, Councillor Yvonne Peacock withdrew from the meeting during the debate and determination of this item).