Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

Councillor J P Curtice appointed

Resolved that Councillor J P Curtice be elected Chair for the 2023-2024 municipal year.

(Councillor J P Curtice presided)

Councillor W G Lewis appointed

Resolved that Councillor W G Lewis be elected Vice-Chair for the 2023-2024 Municipal year.

www.swansea.gov.uk/disclosuresofinterests

None

In accordance with the Code of Conduct adopted by the City & County of Swansea, no interests were declared.

To approve & sign the Minutes of the previous meeting(s) as a correct record.

Approved 

Resolved that the Minutes of the meetings of the Appeals and Awards Committee held on 22 September 2022 be approved and signed as a correct record.

For Information

The City and County of Swansea - Home to School Transport Policy was noted.

For Information

The Welsh Government - Learner Travel - Statutory Provision and Operational Guidance was noted.

Approved 

The Committee was requested to exclude the public from the meeting during consideration of the item(s) of business identified in its recommendation(s) to the report on the grounds that it/they involve(s) the disclosure of exempt information as set out in the exclusion paragraph of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) (Wales) Order 2007, relevant to the item(s) of business set out in the report. 

The Committee considered the Public Interest Test in deciding whether to exclude the public from the meeting for the items of business where the Public Interest Test was relevant as set out in the report. 

Resolved that the public be excluded for the following item on the agenda. 

(Closed Session)

Appeal Allowed

The Committee heard an appeal by the parent of the pupil outlined in the report.  

The appeal was brought against the Department’s decision in relation to eligibility for free transport from the home address to Gower College Swansea.

The parent of the pupil then made verbal representations to the Committee in support of their written submissions and outlined the particular circumstances of her appeal relating to the child and his personal circumstances and conditions. 

They referred to the evidence previously submitted and referred to the additional documentation submitted the day before the meeting.

Officers of the Education and Transportation sections also made verbal representations in support of their written submissions, as did the officer from Gower College Swansea.

The issues around the policy relating to the distance from the property to the school, available walking / bus routes, parental availability to convey the child to school and additional family circumstances were outlined and detailed by the officers to the Committee. 

Members of the Committee asked various questions of both the appellant and officers who responded accordingly. 

The Committee considered fully all the verbal and written submissions made by the parent.

Resolved that: -

1)    The appeal on behalf of the pupil outlined in the report be upheld as the Committee felt there were exceptional circumstances to the case.

2)    Social Services and Education Departments work together to find the most cost effective way of transporting the pupil and another family member to their current education establishment.

3)    In the best interests of the child, he remains at his current educational establishment.