Agenda item

Report CEF20018

The report sought agreement to the exploration of the introduction of demand management initiatives for SEN Transport, including personal transport budgets, independent travel training and maximising flexible approaches to procurement and transport delivery options.  The report also outlined the potential efficiency gains arising from the review of SEN Transport operations in Bromley and highlighted the potential benefits to children and families accessing SEN transport support.

The Director of Education reported that the proposals outlined in the report formed a key part of the Council’s Transformation Programme.  It was considered that the set of proposals before the Committee would deliver genuine transformation in the way that the Local Authority worked with families whilst delivering financial efficiencies without a negative impact on the service provided to vulnerable children and young people.

The Head of Access to Education and Inclusion reported that initially there had been a desk top exercise to look at muster points as one of the initiatives.  However, the financial benefits of muster points were limited and would have resulted in a disproportional impact on children and families.  Consequently, this proposal had not been taken forward.

In the case of personal transport budgets, there was a proven track record of this being successfully delivered in other areas such as Kent.  Personal budgets were one of the few initiatives that had the potential to deliver benefits to all parties and would offer additional flexibility in the way in which families and the Local Authority were able to support children in accessing education.

The Committee noted that the table identifying the financial projections within the report was presented by academic year.  In the interests of transparency, going forward the decision report would reference savings by financial year.

Members acknowledged that the delivery of the benefits outlined in the report would be governed by the pace of introduction as well as the level of take up.  Consequently, one of the key issues going forward would be bringing families on board and engaging with them to support their understanding of the availability of a range of other opportunities for the delivery of transport services.  The proposals outlined in the report were about delivering flexibility in the provision of transport services not removing services.  It was anticipated that in order to reach the level of savings set out in the report there would need to be take up of around 10% however to date there had been no soft market testing.  Until the engagement exercise had been completed it was hard to gauge the level of take up.  If the offer of a personal budget did not suit a particular family’s circumstances, there would be no compulsion for the family to take up the offer.  For some families however it was hoped that a personal budget would provide increased flexibility and the proposals were about offering flexibility and choice.

In response to a question, the Committee heard that the professionals identified in the report would be undertaking a review of engagement with families, the present transport offer and how offers were made.  It was noted that if the Department was able to identify those families who would prefer a personal budget this would influence decisions around the commissioning of transport.  Personal budgets would only be on offer to children who had a statutory entitlement to transport.  If parents chose not to engage there would be no requirement for them to engage.  However, for some families the option of a personal budget may present opportunities that had not previously been available.

In relation to the consultation exercise, the Director of Education confirmed that there was an established approach to engagement and this consultation would be aligned with the agreed Engagement Strategy.  Members noted that the finer details of the scheme would be developed once the engagement and consultation exercise had taken place.  The proposals currently before the Committee sought agreement to commence the engagement exercise concerning the principle of introducing the option of personal transport budgets and the other options outlined in the report in order to improve services and reduced costs. 

In response to a question, the Head of Finance (Education and Children’s Services) confirmed that despite the bests efforts of the Local Authority to lobby for change, transport continued to be Revenue Support Grant (RSG) funded and there were strict limitations placed on the amount that could be charged to the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG).

Members thanked the Officers for the considerable work that had gone into developing the proposals and in endorsing the recommendations in the report supported the next step of the engagement and consultation exercise.

RESOLVED: That the Leader be recommended to

1.  Support a parental consultation and equalities impact assessment of proposed policy changes to open up opportunities to roll out successful SEN transport improvements.

2.  Support the introduction of SEN Transport initiatives, including the use of Personal Transport Budgets and Independent Travel Training initiatives.

3.   Agree to the commissioning of short term, focused professional support, to secure engagement from the SEN community for the delivery of transformation of SEN Transport and encourage a shift away from commissioned transport.

4,  Support the transformation efficiency savings, increasing to £298k in 2022/23.