Council proposals to replace home to school transport for over 16’s with a ‘personal transport budget’ were withdrawn at a Committee meeting on 7 May.
Personal Transport Budgets, which involve giving funding directly to families to make their own travel arrangements instead of using taxis or minibuses organised by the council, will now be optional, and parents can retain their current transport arrangements if they want.
Councillor Mohammed Manroof said: “One of the most important decisions the Committee will make this year.”
Councillors were adamant that consultations continue with parents so they can support them whenever needed, and wanted to be certain that no parent would ever be forced into a situation where they don’t get the help they need. This caused Coun Manroof to consider voting against it.
The Chair of the Committee accused the Lib Dems of playing politics with the issue.
The scale of the opposition was clear, with 860 parents responding to the consultation earlier this year forcing a delay to the planned April Committee.
Councillors recounted tearful meetings with their residents who expressed fears of having to leave work if they were forced to drive their own children to school, with severe impacts on family finances.
Parents also won concessions over an improved travel training scheme, which helps children and young people to develop the skills and confidence to travel independently.
Sheffield City council will be applying to the South Yorks Mayoral Combined Authority to fund this. Overall, the estimated financial impact on the council is that expected savings of £1.5m are now anticipated to be £250,000.
The escalating cost of school transport is a national issue, and Sheffield spends £22.7m transporting 2,480 children, £7m more than the council had expected.
The Committee said it had listened to the outcome of the consultation, and it also committed to continue engaging with parents over the impact of the proposals. The committee works closely with the parent and carer forum.
