Agenda item

[Report of the Director for Children’s Services. To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Children and Families] Following consultation with a wide range of stakeholders, this paper presents the Travel Policy (the Policy, a copy of which is attached as Appendix 1) to Cabinet for approval. The Policy sets out the basis on which Council funded travel will be provided. The Policy is set out in two main sections: Children and Young people (0 to 18 years)- including continuing learners who started their programme of learning before their 19^th birthday-  and Adults with Learning Disabilities and Disabilities (18+).

The Cabinet Member for Children and Families introduced the report and policy which set out the eligibility criteria for Council funded travel. This had been developed  in accordance with statutory responsibilities and affected children and young people, up to the age of 18 and Adults with learning disabilities and other disabilities. The policy had been developed in full consideration of statutory frameworks that might be applicable and with full consultation. The main aims of the policy were to provide clarity to children, young people and adults who may be eligible for funded Council travel and promote independence  in travel for children, young people and adults affected by the policy.

In response to questions from Councillor Morris:

·         The discussion at the Adults and Health Scrutiny Panel was related to the transport of clients to the Haynes day care centre and it had been agreed that the Council would continue to provide this mini bus service. But this decision was not taken in reference to the wider Travel Policy.

·         As set out at the Cabinet meeting in December, the draft policy had been withdrawn as there were further statutory consultation to be completed and the report had now been amended in light of further consultation responses being received from statutory bodies.

RESOLVED

1. To consider and take into account the feedback from the consultation undertaken which is set out at 6.4 and in Appendix 3;

2.    To consider and take into account the equalities impact assessment of the proposals on protected groups at Appendix 2;

3. To consider and take into account the actions proposed in Appendix 2 to mitigate the impact of the policy on the protected groups; and

4. To approve the Travel Policy, Promoting Independence, Enabling Mobility, to take effect from 1^st April 2017 attached at Appendix 1.

Reasons for decision

Through the Corporate Plan, the Council aims to give children the best start in life and to enable healthy and fulfilling lives for all residents. Council arrangements for travel support, which are not collated in a single policy, do not adequately reflect the current policy imperatives to maximise independence, promote personalisation and enable greater resilience.

The Council recognises that most service users can, with support, meet their own needs for travel to access services and can use public transport to develop independence and social and life skills. It further recognises that to enable children, young people and adults to be more independent often requires the provision of support through initiatives such as travel training and the development of community involvement. The Policy’s core principle is to promote the principle of independence through such initiatives whilst ensuring that funded passenger transport is made available where, following assessment, it is deemed to be the only reasonable means of ensuring that the service user can be safely transported to an assessed service.

Alternative options considered

Continuing with the current arrangements for travel was considered but rejected as it would not have met the requirements set out either in the Children and Families Act 2014 or the Care Act 2014 in respect of transitions and the importance of travel to giving children the best start in life and enabling adults to lead healthy and fulfilling lives. Developing separate policies for children and young people and for adults was also rejected on similar grounds.

Following consultation, the Policy better reflects the strategic aims of the Council to promote independence for children, young people and adults with the appropriate levels of support and training. The Policy changes largely reflect the primary purpose of the Policy which is to ensure that children, young people and adults who may have mobility needs are able to access support in the most independent way.