A council concessionary school transport scheme for 143 children is due to be cut, writes Local Democracy Reporter, Bill Edgar.
Durham County Council will vote on plans to end its Maintained Concessionary Scheme at the end of the academic year amid a sharp rise in costs and demand.
The local authority provides daily transport to 9,000 passengers with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and other special provisions. However, its budget has skyrocketed from £11.3 million in 2019/20 to an estimated £38.8 million for next year.
The current Maintained Concessionary Scheme is one of three that the council operates, and provides transport to 143 children at nine schools who do not meet the government’s eligibility criteria.
Cathy Hunt, cabinet member for children and young people’s services, said: “In an ideal world, we would support all families with travel to school and college, but sadly this just isn’t possible with the funding local authorities receive.
“Home-to-school transport (HTST) is one of our biggest and fastest-growing financial pressures on councils, and while we have made significant savings through our transformation programme, costs continue to escalate.”
Cabinet will meet on Wednesday (February 11) to discuss the proposals.
Local authorities must provide free transportation for school-age children who are unable to walk to their nearest suitable school because of distance, SEND, or safety issues. The need is greater in rural counties like County Durham, which, on average, transports almost twice as many children as other areas.
The specialist transport is described as playing a crucial role in getting children to school. But councils around the country are making cutbacks after it became one of the largest spending pressures on local authority budgets.
Rising demand and costs have been interwoven with the rapid growth in Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). The increased number of cases means more expensive options such as taxis and passenger assistants are being utilised, dramatically increasing overall costs.
The former Joint Administration in charge of the authority agreed in principle in 2023 to phase out the concessionary scheme, which was reiterated in 2024. Removing the scheme now would save £200,000 per year, the council said.
Cllr Hunt added: “This means we are having to look at the concessionary schemes we provide, which are over and above what is required of us by the government.
“Ending the Maintained Concessionary Scheme is a measure that has been discussed for a number of years and, at a time when councils are facing mounting pressures, we can’t continue to put it off. It’s not an easy decision to make but it will help to ensure the long-term sustainability of HTSTP, and direct valuable resources to families most in need.”
Council leaders will also be asked to undertake a review of post-16 travel assistance, after a sharp rise in costs from £1 million in 2018 to £4.7 million in 2024. If approved, further details are expected later this year.
Bill Edgar
Reporter for the Local Democracy Reporter Service.
South West Durham News covering news across County Durham.
