Posted: Thu 14th May 2020

Flintshire Council leader approves u-turn on plans to axe free transport for college and sixth form students

News and Info from Deeside, Flintshire, North Wales
This article is old - Published: Thursday, May 14th, 2020

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The leader of Flintshire Council has approved a u-turn on plans to scrap free transport for hundreds of college and sixth form students. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Labour’s Ian Roberts said new UK Government legislation meant the local authority would have been required to upgrade its entire bus fleet had it introduced charges of up to £450 a year as originally agreed last summer. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The council currently offers free travel for 2,000 youngsters to their nearest post-16 education provider, but is one of few left in Wales still delivering the discretionary service at a cost of about £860,000 a year. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The ruling administration had hoped to save money by only providing the complimentary service for students who receive free school meals from September. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

However, the Public Service Vehicle Accessibility Regulations (PSVAR) prevent charging for places on buses and coaches which are not fully accessible for disabled people. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The authority has now come to an alternative arrangement by agreeing a cost sharing initiative with Coleg Cambria, a further and higher education college which has campuses in Deeside and Northop. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Cllr Roberts, who is also cabinet member for education, said the impact of meeting the regulations would have been significant. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, he said: “It was with a very heavy heart that the original decision was made. However, given the financial circumstances faced in the council there was very little choice. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“There were two factors in reversing the decision, the first one being PSVAR regulations which mean that we cannot charge for transport which isn’t fully accessible. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“The implications of that on vehicles is absolutely immense and would more or less require a new transport stock with the exception of some vehicles which are already adapted. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“The second one is our partnership with Coleg Cambria which wil hopefully lead to a more equitable cost sharing.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The council’s budget for 2020/21 had included an expected extra income of £449,000 from the fees. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

A senior officer said the impact on its finances would be closer to £770,000 for a full financial year. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

But Cllr Roberts declared himself content with the new arrangement. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

He said: “We have a commitment from Coleg Cambria that they will be supporting their transport services. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“It’s really good to work with other public sector partners to ensure the best for the learners, because in the end that’s what this should be about. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“The vast majority of cabinet members and officers are really pleased at where we’re at now.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Liam Randall – Local Democracy Reporter (more here). ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​


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