Agenda and minutes

www.swansea.gov.uk/disclosuresofinterests

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

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 items on the agenda.

(Closed Session)

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

The appeal was brought against the Department’s decision in relation to eligibility for free transport from their home address to Gowerton Comprehensive.

The parents of the pupil then made verbal representations to the Committee in support of their written submissions and outlined the particular circumstances of their appeal relating to the child’s disability and special educational needs and his family circumstances.

They outlined in particular severe problems due to the Covid 19 pandemic with getting in contact with officers in the Education department and also obtaining the correct written correspondence relating to the pupil.

Officers of the Education and Transportation sections also made verbal representations in support of their written submissions.

The type and manner of free transport that the authority generally provides to secondary school pupils and its main differences to primary school transport provision was outlined and detailed by the transport officer to the committee.

Members of the Committee asked a series of questions of both the appellants and officers who responded accordingly.

The Welsh Government - Learner Travel - Statutory Provision and Operational Guidance and the City & County of Swansea – Home to School Transport Policy outlined in the appendix to the report were noted.

The Committee considered fully all the verbal and written submissions.

Resolved that

1)    the appeal on behalf of the pupil outlined in the report be allowed, due to what the Committee considered to be exceptional circumstances, and the pupil be provided with free transport to Gowerton School.

2)    the legal representative make recommendations to the Education Directorate on behalf of the Committee regarding the issues raised during this and the previous appeal.