TOWN Hall chiefs at Warrington are being asked to agree to make changes to its controversial decision to axe free school buses for hundreds of children to save up to £180,000.
Amended proposals will be put to the executive board tomorrow (Tuesday) which will reduce the savings to be made by £69,620 next year.
Further reductions in savings will follow over the following two years, although the “lost” savings will reduce each year, and will be zero by 2018-2019.
The amendment is being suggested as a result of comments made by the Local Government Ombudsman following a complaint made locally.
Although there is no suggestion that the council’s review was unlawful, the Ombudsman says she would be 
concerned if large numbers of bus passes were removed because two or three places were available at a nearer school.
The changes will mean that nearly 200 children, mainly pupils of Lymm High School who live in Grappenhall and Thelwall, will continue to receive free transport in addition to those who would have benefited under the previously agreed arrangements.
A report to be presented to the executive board by Cllr Colin Froggatt (pictured), the borough council’s executive member for children and young people’s services, stresses that the Local Government Ombudsman found no fault in the way consultation was carried out in connection with the proposals.
It states: “Although the Ombudsman has no legal power to make the council act on their decisions, in nearly all cases councils do follow their recommendations.
“Therefore by accepting the recommendations, the council reduces the risk of reputational damage.”
The recommendations now being put to the board are that the council provides free school transport only when there is a legal obligation to do so with effect from September this year.
They will continue to provide support for all existing pupils from low income families current receiving support and also to existing children in years 10 or 11 of secondary education this year and next and also to children currently receiving support who are years 8 and 9 of secondary school and throughout their time at that school who travel from an area where there are not sufficient places available at schools within walking distance of home for all the children travelling to that school.
Council's school bus U-turn
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About Author
Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
