The Council’s preferred option is to revert to the statutory distances which qualify pupils for free home to school transport; and a gradual reduction in the amount of travel grant that post-16 students receive over a three year period, with this being withdrawn completely by September 2021.
You can get involved now by taking part in an online questionnaire on the Council’s Consultations Page or by attending one of the following consultation events:
- Thursday, 14th June: Abertillery Metropole, 3pm to 6pm
- Monday, 18th June: Brynmawr Learning Action Centre, 3pm to 6pm
- Tuesday, 19th June: Cwm Community Centre, 3pm to 6pm
- Wednesday, 20th June: Bedwellty House, Tredegar, 3pm to 6pm
- Tuesday, 26th June: Rassau Resource Centre, Ebbw Vale, 3pm to 6pm
- Wednesday, 4th July: Waundeg Community Centre, 81 Waundeg, Tredegar, 3pm to 6pm
The consultation is open now and closes at 5pm on Tuesday, 17th July 2018.
As part of the budget setting process, the Council made a decision to review its Home to School and Post 16 Transport Policy with in order to make efficiencies and financial savings within the service.
Blaenau Gwent Council currently operates a generous policy above the statutory distances. It also provides a post-16 travel grant for young people attending college and out of county sixth form provision, which there is no statutory requirement to do. Several Welsh local authorities have recently reverted to statutory distances for home to school transport.
The statutory distances set by Welsh Government are:
• Under 8 years of age – Statutory Limit 2 miles
• 8 – 11 years of age - Statutory Limit 2 miles
• 11 – 16 years of age - Statutory Limit 3 miles
There will also be consultation with students at the Blaenau Gwent Learning Zone and young people at both the Blaenau Gwent Youth Forum and the Children’s Grand Council.
Cllr Clive Meredith, the Council’s Executive Member for Education, said:
“As part of the financial planning for this year’s budget we made a commitment to review any service areas across the Council to identify potential savings. The Home to School and Post 16 Transport is one of these areas and so it was agreed to review the policy and to consult upon a phased proposal to revert to statutory distances and to also consider post 16 transport options.
“We are looking for views and want to hear from as many people as possible as part of the consultation before we make any decisions in relation to the policy. If approved, the changes could mean reverting to the statutory distances recommended by Welsh Government; however, it is important for the Council to look at making required savings whilst working to mitigate any potential negative impact on the education of our children and young people.”