Tories Vote to Charge for School Transport

2.20.26pm GMT Fri 17th Mar 2006

Conservatives at County Hall today voted to press ahead with charges for 16-19 year old students travelling more than three miles to school or college. This is despite evidence presented by Liberal Democrats at the meeting that their policy goes against clear guidance from the Department for Education and Skills.

Last week the Lib Dems were successful in getting the earlier decision to charge students £8 a week for using home to school transport if they live more than three miles from the nearest college looked at again by the County Council's Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

When it met today, Lib Dem Group Leader Cllr Caroline Seymour revealed to the committee a guidance paper from the DfES which says that students should not be expected to pay more than one-third of their Education Maintenance Allowance on transport. For many students £8 will be more than a third.

During the debate the Conservative Executive Member for Childrens' Services was forced to admit that the charges will cause hardship to some families and will lead to an increase in traffic.

Councillor Caroline Seymour, Vice-Chair of the Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee, and Lib Dem Group Leader at County Hall, said: "We lost the vote today, but we certainly didn't lose the argument. The Conservatives have accepted that this policy

goes against guidance, but have voted for it anyway. And the losers will be our County's young people."

Richmond Lib Dem councillor Stuart Parsons added: "I am very disappointed. We believe in free access to education for all, and this policy runs against that principle."

Labour members of the committee also backed the Lib Dem call-

in. Councillor Jim Snowball (Sherburn) said:"The decision was rushed and ill thought through. It lacked any robust analysis about the impact of the charges on students whose families are on low incomes, took no cognisance of the impact on post-16 participation rates, and was based on a highly flawed consultation process. Post-16 education in North Yorkshire is not safe in Tory hands."